Nobody in Cincinnati cares about the number on this scoreboard right now. They care about Ja'Marr Chase's knee, which buckled sideways at Tuesday's practice and stopped every rep in the building cold. He is not playing Friday. He was never going to touch the field for a preseason finale against Philadelphia regardless of health. But the scare is why anyone outside Ohio is even glancing at this game.
Strip away the name and this is what it always is: fourth preseason game, backups and roster-bubble guys trying to make a case before cuts, starters watching from the sideline in sweats. The Eagles have their own things to sort out before the real season starts. None of that has anything to do with whether this particular game clears 38.5 combined points.
The injury is the story that got you to look. The total is a separate question, decided by whoever Cincinnati and Philadelphia actually trot out there once Chase and the other starters are safely on the bench. Over or under 38.5, with backups running the show.