Another year, another 0-2 start for the Cincinnati Bengals. They have been able to avoid an 0-3 start in each of the past two years and will have an opportunity to avoid another one on Monday night when they host the Washington Commanders. The Bengals are more than a touchdown favorite on the heels of a tough-luck loss on the road at Kansas City.
If there is a silver lining for the Bengals in all of this, it is that quarterback Joe Burrow started to look more like himself in Week 2 and wide receiver Tee Higgins is expected to rejoin the lineup on Monday. Getting him back would be a huge boost to both Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, who has just 10 catches and 97 yards through the first two games of the season.
They are also going against a Washington pass defense that is tied for 22nd in the league through two games and has recorded just two sacks (both from Clelin Ferrell, who is out this week). There could be opportunities here for the Bengals.
Offensively, Washington is rolling with No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels, who has probably been the most successful of the rookie quarterbacks through two games. He has not thrown a touchdown yet, but he has completed 75.5 percent of his passes, not turned the ball over (though he has fumbled twice) and also rushed for 132 yards.
Even though the Commanders have not won a lot the past couple of years, they are 6-3 against the spread as road underdogs since the start of the 2023 season and have only lost two road games by more than seven points during that time. Only one of those losses was by more than eight points.
