Can the Washington Commanders (1-1) pull off the upset against the Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) on Monday Night Football?
The Bengals opened as 7.5-point favorites last week and will get a big part of their offense back on Monday when star wide receiver Tee Higgins returns. Higgins missed the first two games with a hamstring injury, and now quarterback Joe Burrow will have his full complement of weapons for the first time this season.
Will Washington win its second game in a row?
It’s prediction time.
Bryan Manning
The Bengals will jump on the Commanders early, but Washington battles back. Cincinnati will lead throughout the game, but Jayden Daniels will make plays with his arm and legs to keep things interesting. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. will have another big game for the Commanders. However, the defense can’t slow down Burrow, Higgins, and Ja’Marr Chase, and Cincinnati will pull away for an 11-point victory.
Bengals 31, Commanders 20
Ivan Lambert
Washington is a 7.5-point underdog Monday night in Cincinnati against Joe Burrow and the Bengals. In fact, the Commanders were already a 7.5-point underdog even before the announcement that Bengals’ receiver Tee Higgins would be returning from a hamstring injury, in time to face the Commanders.
The Commanders secondary has struggled in pass coverage against the Buccaneers and the Giants. It only stands to reason to those predicting the game that they will struggle against the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase and company. In fact, according to NFL Pickwatch, 97% of the expert picks believe Cincinnati will defeat Washington.
So, what can the Commanders do Monday against the Bengals? The best answer to slow down the Bengals offense may actually be the Commanders offense. The Bengals are surrendering 4.5 yards a rushing attempt. Consequently, the Commanders should attempt to run the ball as often as possible. In addition, it would not hurt to attempt to run as many zone-read options as well, provided Jayden Daniels slides and gets down. However, using him with the zone-read options could also open up runs inside for Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler. Finally, using play action out of those successful zone-read runs could open up passing lanes not previously utilized in the first two weeks.
But in the end, until the Commanders can get a pass rush on Joe Burrow, they simply have not provided any evidence that they can defend well in the secondary in the first two weeks.
Bengals 31, Commanders 24