Washington Commanders vs Cincinnati Bengals (CIN -7.5, 47)
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Washington Commanders vs Cincinnati Bengals
Monday Night Football in Week 3 has the Washington Commanders and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels going head-to-head with Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s a big opportunity for the Commanders second overall pick, who has looked good in part through two games, especially in the way his presence opens up the run game for the team.
Washington are performing at a high level running the football, ranking 6th in yards per rush (5.4), 7th in rushes per game (32.5), sixth in rushing yards per game (176.5), and third in rushing touchdowns per game (1.5).
Daniels himself has 132 rushing yards and two touchdowns in two games, including the 88 yard rushing performance he put up against Tampa Bay in Week 1. They’re not throwing the football as much as two thirds of the league, but do rank second in completion percentage at 75%, averaging 7 yards per pass and avoiding any interceptions so far.
It looks as though the Commander's staff are putting their quarterback in a position to succeed, without forcing too much risk on him early on. It worked in Week 2, resulting in a win over the division rival Giants, but is it enough to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3, or will they need to be a little less conservative with the potential of their young quarterback?
The Commanders secondary could also be a major factor in this one, allowing 7.8 yards per pass play (29th), 69% completion percentage (23rd), and 227.5 passing yards per game (22nd). Cincinnati’s season seems to be marred by the ugly affair between the franchise and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. The former LSU prospect is extremely agitated by the lack of a new contract prior to the season, and that has translated into his demeanour on the field. He just looks irritated, and on Sunday nearly cost his team a crucial field goal by losing his temper with the referee following what he believed to be a blown call.
Tee Higgins is yet to feature, and the absence of Joe Mixon may be a factor too. Cincinnati are underperforming by the standard we’ve come to expect of them, ranking in the lower third in several major categories. They’re 22nd in yards per play (5), 22nd in third down conversion (33%), 24th in yards per game (272), and 30th in rushing yards per game (72).
The struggling run game is only highlighted further by how poorly the Bengals are defending the run themselves. They’re giving up 159.5 rushing yards per game, and teams are choosing to run against them versus throwing the football down the field. There are certainly weaknesses in the front seven, and that could be a major matchup problem for them against a team that has already proven to be very creative, and successful, keeping the football on the ground. That said, if Washington are forced into passing situations, the Bengals defense is one of the best in the league at closing the pass game down.
The Bengals have started the season slow once again, something they’ve taken on as something of a personality trait at this point, now 0-2 and desperate to get back on track. They’re 1-1 against the spread, and favored by 7.5 points on Monday night.
The Commanders are also 1-1 against the spread, but lost by 17 as a four point underdog in Week 1, and now face a far wider margin going into this weekend's game.
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