The Cincinnati Bengals will wrap up their preseason slate with a road matchup against the Washington Commanders. Kickoff is slated for 6:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, and all preseason games are available through NFL+.
Cincinnati (0-1-1) is hoping for its first preseason victory, as a way to enter the regular season with some momentum. The Bengals suffered a 36-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the opener, while recording a 13-13 tie with the Atlanta Falcons last Friday.
The Commanders, on the other hand, are 2-0 entering their final exhibition matchup. The Commanders earned a 17-15 win over the Cleveland Browns before following that up with a 29-28 thriller over the Baltimore Ravens. It snapped Baltimore’s impressive 24-game preseason win streak.
Can Washington finish off an AFC North trifecta heading into the 2023-24 NFL regular season? The oddsmakers seem to think so. FanDuel Sportsbook has listed the Commanders as 5.5-point favorites for the preseason finale, with an over/under of 35.5.
Let’s take a closer look at the odds and trends:
Cincinnati Bengals at Washington Commanders
Time/TV: 6:05 p.m. ET, NFL+
Point spread (from FanDuel): Commanders -5.5
Money line: Bengals +190/Commanders -230
Over/under: 35.5
Analysis: This game means nothing for either team, but especially a Bengals squad coming off back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances. Quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a calf injury that has kept him out of the preseason, and his health for Week 1 remains the biggest priority for this franchise.
That said, the Commanders are coming off a bit of a high after ending the Ravens’ win streak. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Washington’s players not as dialed in on this result after caring so much about a victory last time out.
The Bengals have also demonstrated some of their depth this preseason. Quarterback Jake Browning went 16-for-22 for 140 yards in last week’s tie. Cincinnati should be more competitive in the finale before all eyes turn toward the regular season and the status of Burrow.
Prediction: Commanders 20, Bengals 17
