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Bengals, Eagles play to first tie in over six years

Nov 16, 2008 - 11:31 PM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Shayne Graham authored up a fitting ending.

Graham missed a 47-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining as the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles played to a 13-13 tie on Sunday.

It marked the NFL's first tie since the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers battled to a 34-34 stalemate on November 10, 2002.

This tie was a lot less exciting as the Bengals (1-8-1) and Eagles (5-4-1) took turns making mistakes in a game that was comical at times.

It was a horrific afternoon for Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, who tied a career high with three interceptions and also lost a fumble. He completed just 28-of-58 passes for 339 yards with a touchdown and had a number of his passes batted down at the line of scrimmage in a dismal performance.

McNabb also seemed clueless after the game.

"I didn't know they had ties in the NFL," he said. "In college, high school and Pop Warner, there are ties. I wonder what would happen in the playoffs or Super Bowl. I guess we are aware of it now."

Bengals quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was sacked eight times and completed 29-of-44 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown.

"When the guys play as hard as they did today and don't win it's a tough one," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "They played down to their sox. We have to feel for our players that they didn't get a victory."

The Eagles had three possessions in overtime, not counting McNabb's desperation heave on the final play. Each seemed to be a little worse than the next, with the second featuring three penalties.

Eagles coach Andy Reid again decided to abandon the run, as McNabb - inaccurate virtually entire the afternoon and even laughing at times on the field in overtime - attempted a career high in passes. The Eagles ran the ball 18 times for 68 yards.

"I'm dissapointed. We had opportunities and we need to take advantage of them," Reid said. "We need to play football, coach and create. I'm very disappointed that we didn't get it done."

Reid's colorful play chart also had few answers as the Eagles went a laughable 3-of-18 on third down.

Meanwhile, the Bengals' biggest problems came in failing to protect Fitzpatrick, who took a beating.

Despite their ineptness, the Bengals looked like they were on their way to their second straight win after Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown was called for roughing-the-passer in overtime. However, four plays later, Graham sent his field goal wide right.

On one of the few times Fitzpatrick received some time, he found T.J. Houshmandzadeh for a 26-yard touchdown with 33 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Bengals a 10-3 lead. That score was set up by linebacker Brandon Johnson's interception and 35-yard return into Philadelphia territory.

Houshmandzadeh had 12 catches for 149 yards.

Early in the second quarter, the Bengals also used their defense to produce a score when Frostee Rucker recovered a fumble by McNabb at the Philadelphia 1. But the Bengals showed their incompetence as Cedric Benson was stopped for no gain and Fitzpatrick took a sack before throwing an incompletion on third down.

"We had a lot of missed opportunities. We need to put more points on the board," Lewis said.

After being held to minus-3 yards total offense in the first quarter, the Eagles got on the board with 11:12 left before halftime on David Akers' 42-yard field. That score was set up by McNabb's 44-yard screen pass to Correll Buckhalter to the Cincinnati 30.

A 57-yard completion by McNabb to Hank Baskett to the Bengals 4 led to a 4-yard TD pass to tight end L.J. Smith with 9:29 left in the third quarter, which pulled the Eagles within 13-10.

The score came just over a minute after Graham converted a 41-yard field goal to give the Bengals a double-digit lead.

Akers eventually tied the game with a 27-yard field goal with 5:18 left in regulation. That kick came after Reid, whose team has been dismal all season in short-yardage situations, decided not to go for it on 4th-and-1.

Eagles running back Brian Westbrook was held in check for the second straight week as he rushed for 60 yards on 14 carries and had three receptions for 11 yards. He accounted for just 59 yards against the New York Giants last Sunday.

Benson also found no room with 23 carries for 42 yards.

"I know it is a tie but it feels like a loss," said Eagles defensive end Trent Cole, who had two sacks.