The Bengals were in Washington on Monday night to take on the Commanders in their second preseason game. Like we saw in week 1, the first team got an extended look, as Zac Taylor hopes to avoid the slow starts that have impacted the team since he became the head coach in Cincinnati.
Cincy started on offence, and that unit did as they were supposed to. A short kick and a nice return by Charlie Jones set them up near midfield. The drive nearly stalled early, but a well executed hard count drew them offsides on 4th down, allowing the drive to extend. After an 11 yard completion to Chase, Burrow again looked his way, this time on a deep shot. It fell incomplete, but drew a 25 yard pass interference penalty. A handful of plays later, Chase Brown ran it in from a yard out on 4th down. 7-0 Bengals.
When it was the defence’s turn, they could not hold up their end of the bargain. This was a common theme last season. Washington’s offence needed only 4 plays to return the favour. A jet sweep to Deebo Samuel picked up 19 on their opening play. Then, Rodriguez gashed through the Bengals defence for a 40 yard run. Two plays later Jayden Daniels scrambled up the middle for a 14 yard score. 7-7.
The Bengals punted on their second drive, and the Commanders offence replicated their opening drive, only this time, it took 3 plays instead of 4. A 5 yard run and a 12 yard pass opened up the drive, as Josh Johnson was now in at QB for Washington. On the third play, Croskey-Merritt ran in the score from 27 yards out, making for two brutal drives for the first team defence. Despite the poor showings, Zac Taylor elected not to send them out for another drive after this. 14-7 Commanders.
Burrow and most of the starters were sent out for a third drive. Rookie Tahj Brooks was involved by this point. As well, Burrow was often looking in the direction of guys like Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones. The team methodically went down the field, aided by a horse collar penalty on a play that otherwise would have been a sack. Burrow found Jones on 4th down, inside Washington territory, to move the chains. Then, he found him again in the back of the end zone for a 4 yard score, which tied the game. 14-14.
A little while later, with the second team in by now, the Bengals were able to grab the lead. It was late in the 2nd half, and Jake Browning led them on a drive that lasted only 49 seconds. He found Mitchell Tinsley for a 23 yard gain and then Kendric Pryor for 20. Browning, on the next play, found Tinsley again for a nice 13 yard TD. It was a great catch by Tinsley, and it gave the Bengals a 21-14 lead.
Despite having little time left in the half, the Bengals weren’t done. Rookie Barrett Carter jumped a route on Washington’s first play of the next drive, giving the ball back to the offence. They needed only 1 play. Browning found, you guessed it, Tinsley in the back of the end zone for a 21 yard TD. It was another spectacular catch, and gave the Bengals a 28-14 lead at the half.
The second half was largely uneventful, as each team added a field goal each. For the Bengals, it was a 54 yarder from McPherson, who looks like the version we had come to know prior to his off year last season.
Cincinnati wins this one 31-17, and will turn their focus to the preseason finale against the Colts. It will be their first and only home preseason game this year.
Thumbnail Image Via: Maize & Blue Nation (CC)