Week 2 of the NFL preseason ends tonight under the Monday night lights as the Cincinnati Bengals head to the nation's capital to face the Washington Commanders. With both teams coming off opening-week losses and looking to get back on track before roster cuts and final tune-ups in Week 3, this is going to be a great game, and we should see some serious action.
Cincinnati lost a shootout in Philly, falling 34-27 despite a strong showing from a few of their starters. Washington, meanwhile, got walloped by New England 48-18 in a game where they held out most of their key playmakers. This time around, both teams are expected to roll out their starters early in the game, which should give us a more balanced and competitive matchup — at least for the first quarter. Beyond that, as with preseason games, anything is possible.
The Bengals come into this one as road favorites. The spread currently sits at Cincinnati -3.5, with the Commanders +3.5 as the home underdog. The total is set at 43.5, which is a relatively high number for a preseason game. On the moneyline, the Bengals are listed at -198, while the Commanders offer value at +164 for those looking to back the upset.
That line movement reflects the bookmaker's confidence in Cincinnati’s offense after a promising showing last week, but we simply can’t ignore Washington’s upside now that their starters are expected to play. Still, the question is — how many series?
Even in a loss, the Bengals showed signs they’re getting closer to regular-season form. Joe Burrow played just a limited number of snaps but was efficient in the few he took. He went 9-of-10 for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns. That included a scoring strike to Ja'Marr Chase, who finished with 77 yards and 4 catches in the preseason opener.
Cincinnati didn’t get much from its ground game, though. Tahj Brooks led with just 26 yards on 10 carries, which is a stat line that speaks more to their reliance on the passing game than any dominance in the trenches. That could be a major concern if they’re trying to protect Burrow or avoid taking too many hits this early in August. Sure, it’s smart on their part, but it poses a challenge for bettors.
But what stood out most to us was how crisp the first-team offense looked. They moved the ball with ease, and if they get another couple of series, they could easily put up double-digit points again in the first half.
Washington took a different approach in Week 1. Rookie QB Jayden Daniels, along with most of the starting offense, didn’t touch the field in their blowout loss to the Patriots. That is going to change for tonight since head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Daniels and the starters will play at least the first quarter, and possibly more depending on how things go and what they want to see from them.
That’s a big development heading into tonight’s showdown. Daniels offers mobility and a strong arm, and the coaching staff wants to see him in real-game situations. Josh Johnson handled most of the work last week, completing 15-of-22 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown, but also threw a pick. Demetric Felton added 42 yards on the ground on just 6 carries, but overall, the Commanders lacked any sort of rhythm.
With Daniels under center and some of their key weapons back on the field, we’re expecting a more focused effort — especially at home.
This game will likely come down to who has more functional depth behind the starters. And while Washington has the hype of a new regime and a rookie QB getting his first reps, Cincinnati already looks more polished and a little further in their preseason cleanup.
Burrow and Chase were in midseason form in just a few drives last week. Even if they only play another 2-3 series, that just might be enough to build an early lead that the rest of the team can hold. More importantly, the Bengals’ second and third-string units held up better than Washington’s last week — especially on offense.
The Commanders' defense gave up nearly 50 points to a Patriots team that isn’t exactly known for lighting up the scoreboard, which is a major consideration. That’s not a great sign heading into a matchup against one of the league’s most dangerous passing offenses, even if only in limited preseason action. If Cinci builds on what they started last week, we could see 14 on the board really quickly.
Yes, Daniels brings some unpredictability, and Washington should look sharper. But this still feels like Cincinnati’s game to lose. Their stars are clicking, their backups are undeniably holding their own, and the coaching staff seems committed to giving them meaningful reps even if we’re only in week 2 of the preseason.
Bengals vs Commanders Prediction: Bengals 26, Commanders 20
Best Bet: Take Cincinnati -3.5 at -118
Even on the road, the Bengals have more consistency, more proven offensive firepower, and a clear edge in quarterback play — especially in the early stages of the game. Washington will most likely look better with Daniels, but this still looks like a game where Cincinnati controls the pace early and holds on late.