Sound familiar? Bengals starting offense looks great while defense struggles in preseason opener

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Cincinnati Bengals have gotten off to some terrible starts in the regular seasons under Zac Taylor, so they changed things up. The starters played on both sides of the ball, which hasn't been the case very often since Joe Burrow was drafted. 

And everything looked just like it did by the end of last season in Cincinnati. That's good news and bad news. 

The Bengals offense got the ball first against the Philadelphia Eagles and was sharp. Joe Burrow completed 6-of-7 passes on the Bengals' first drive for 71 yards. He hit Ja'Marr Chase three times for 41 yards. Running back Chase Brown looked sharp too. Burrow finished the drive with a 12-yard touchdown to Tanner Hudson. Cincinnati's offense looked great, just like it did last season. 

Then on Cincinnati's second drive, Burrow was sharp again and hit Chase on a pass that Chase turned upfield for a 36-yard touchdown. They made it look easy. Cincinnati's starting offense as pulled after two series. 

The Bengals' defense didn't have similar results. 

This wasn't the Super Bowl-winning Eagles offense the Bengals were facing. None of the Eagles' starters played. And the Eagles moved the ball easily against what was most of the Bengals' projected starting defense. 

Will Shipley, vying to be Saquon Barkley's primary backup this season, broke a 38-yard run. Jalen Hurts' backup Tanner McKee hit both of his passes to Jahan Dotson for 27 yards. McKee punched in a touchdown on a tush push. The Eagles got a field goal on their second drive, as the Bengals still had a handful of projected defensive starters on the field. 

Cincinnati's defense was a problem last season and the biggest reason the team missed the playoffs despite Burrow playing at an MVP level. If Thursday night's issues came against Hurts, Barkley, A.J. Brown and the rest of the Eagles' starters, that would be understandable. It wasn't great seeing it happen against McKee and Shipley. 

The Bengals changed coordinators in the offseason, firing Lou Anarumo and hiring Al Golden away from Notre Dame. But the personnel has been short, with last season's NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson sitting out as he tries to get a raise. It will take some time to adjust to a new scheme, especially if Hendrickson remains out of the lineup, but it wasn't a good start for Cincinnati's defense. 

The Bengals offense looked ready for the regular season, and being sharp to start the season was the reason the starters were on the field in Philly. But getting the starters some reps led to continued questions about whether the defense will be any better.