Bengals @ Commanders – Preseason Week 2

NFL Game preview
  • Date & Time: Monday, August 18, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Venue: Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland
  • Broadcast: Nationally on ESPN with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman calling the action; also available on NFL+, ESPN+, fuboTV, YouTube NFL Sunday Ticket, plus local TV and radio feeds

Recent Form & Team Focus

Both teams are in their second week of preseason, tuning up and evaluating roster depth. The Commanders, fresh off a lopsided 48‑18 loss to the Patriots in Week 1, are emphasizing tactics and chemistry—DC Joe Whitt Jr. described this matchup as a real test for rookie CB Trey Amos as he takes on Bengals’ electric passing duo. The team will run a “snapshot” game plan—more of a sample than a full playbook—to simulate real-game speed while managing risk. Hawks coach Dan Quinn has stressed effort and detail after last week’s missteps, especially following an offensive tackle injury that ended Lucas Niang’s season (torn ACL).

Meanwhile, the Bengals ramped up intensity at practice—rookie Shemar Stewart took first-team reps and even sparked a scuffle after a hard collision with QB Joe Burrow. Injuries are clouding camp: Orlando Brown Jr., Mike Gesicki, and Jermaine Burton were absent, while Dax Hill and DJ Turner returned. On defense, standouts like Demetrius Knight Jr. and Marco Wilson shone, and Tee Higgins capped a 70-yard drive with a touchdown Cincy Jungle. This all points to Cincinnati sharpening its competitive edge ahead of Week 1.

Star Players & Injury Updates

  • Washington Commanders: Rookies are in focus—Jayden Daniels will see limited snaps, managed carefully due to injuries on the offensive line (like guards Sam Cosmi, Brandon Coleman, and LT Laremy Tunsil resting). Terry McLaurin remains in contract limbo and hasn’t practiced much, while rookie LB Kain Medrano continues adapting—film review showed early struggles in run reads but strong physical improvement Hogs Haven.
  • Cincinnati Bengals: The offense, led by Burrow and receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, remains potent—Higgins recently signed a four-year, $115 million extension. On defense, Trey Hendrickson, the league’s 2024 sack leader (17.5 sacks, first-team All-Pro) looms large. But they’re without Logan Wilson, their leading tackler from 2024, now on IR after knee surgery.

Head-to-Head History

While preseason meetings hold little bearing on regular-season trends, there’s a recent benchmark: in 2024 Season’s Week 3, rookie QB Jayden Daniels delivered a stunning performance at Monday Night Football in Cincy, completing 91.3% of his passes for 293 total yards and three TDs, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. That game ended in a high-scoring 38‑33 win for the Commanders . It’s worth keeping that in mind tonight—even if the starters play sparingly, both organizations remember the spark that was lit.

Prediction Time

Preseason previews are more about feel than form, but let’s lean into the hype.

  • Washington: Will showcase swagger and wants to test its D. Amos vs. Chase/Higgins is the match to watch.
  • Cincinnati: Hungry to correct defensive inconsistencies and get key contributors back into rhythm. Burrow wants no more hits from camp chaos.

Final call: Bengals edge out a win—Bengals 27, Commanders 17. Cincy’s depth and veteran presence, even in preseason, should outpace Washington’s banged-up offense. But if Daniels flashes again, watch out.