Here are a few matchups that could decide the outcome of the Bengals’ Week 3 Monday Night Football game at home against the Commanders.
The Cincinnati Bengals, having dropped the first two games of the season again, are heading into a pivotal Monday Night Football game against the Washington Commanders. Losing a third game to start the season would not only be demoralizing for the team and its fans, but it could make it very tough for the Bengals to find their way into the postseason.
The Bengals are looking to take their first step in the right direction this season, and the Commanders are looking to prove they belong with the Cowboys and Eagles more than they do with the Giants.
Here are a few matchups that could decide the outcome of the game.
Joe Burrow vs. Jayden Daniels
Only two LSU quarterbacks have ever won the Heisman Trophy, and they will be playing against each other on Monday night. This is the second time former Heisman winners from the same college have played against each other in the NFL (Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, who both won the Heisman while at Oklahoma, are the others). Burrow has more college and pro accolades, but he still has plenty to prove.
Daniels is a rookie, and while he hasn’t thrown for any touchdowns in the regular season yet, he hasn’t made many mistakes either. He has a talented cast of skill players around him, including Terry McLaurin and Austin Ekeler, and will be looking to prove he’s the best quarterback to come out of LSU.
I know the two aren’t facing off in a literal way, but this has the potential to be a fun duel between two talented quarterbacks.
Trey Hendrickson/Sam Hubbard vs. Jayden Daniels
Burrow is a top-three quarterback in the NFL, but there is one thing Daniels does better, and that’s run the ball. Don’t get me wrong, Burrow can run if he needs to, but his main weapons are his arm and brain. Daniels’ main weapon, at least right now, is his legs.
Daniels is an explosive runner and has carried the ball 26 times for 132 yards (5.1 YPC) and two touchdowns. The key to beating a team with an explosive offense is to run the ball, let the clock run, and keep that opposing quarterback on the bench where he can’t hurt you. That’s what the Commanders are going to try to do.
It’s going to be the defensive ends’ responsibility to keep Daniels in the pocket. Hopefully, when he steps up, there’s someone there. If Daniels is able to escape the pocket consistently, he can punish the Bengals defense. They need Hendrickson and Hubbard, as well as the other edge rushers on the team, to keep Daniels in the pocket. Containment is the name of the game on Monday night.
Commanders secondary vs. Bengals wide receivers at full strength
The Commanders secondary has struggled through the first two weeks of the 2024 season. Opposing quarterbacks have averaged a rating of 127.6, which is the highest in the NFL. They’ve allowed the most passing touchdowns and are giving up an average of eight yards per attempt. They’ve played against Baker Mayfield, who’s rocking it, and Daniel Jones, who’s Daniel Jones
Now they’re faced with Burrow and a fully healthy group of wide receivers for the first time this season. Tee Higgins is back and playing his first game after a hamstring issue has held him up.
Ja’Marr Chase, Higgins, Jermaine Burton, Andrei Iosivas, Charlie Jones, and Trenton Irwin make up one of the most talented wide receiver groups in the NFL, and the fact they’re being thrown to by one of the league’s most elite passers makes them all the more dangerous.
The Commanders’ secondary must pull an about-face and play much better against one of the league’s top passing offenses for Washington to have a shot.
Bengals defensive tackles vs. Brian Robinson Jr.
The Bengals’ biggest weakness right now is their ability to stop the run. Now they enter Week 3 with both starting defensive tackles dealing with hamstring injuries. Robinson is a powerful downhill runner. He’s averaging six yards per carry, and he carries the ball right up the middle about 44 percent of the time.
It’s currently unclear as to whether or not BJ Hill will be able to play, but Sheldon Rankins has already been ruled out. That leaves Zack Carter, Jay Tufele, rookie Kris Jenkins, who is making his debut, Lawrence Guy, and possibly Domenique Davis, if the Bengals activate him off the practice squad.
The Commanders offense is going to look to pound the ball up the middle, and the Bengals’ defensive interior needs to be ready to play.
Bengals offensive line vs. struggling pass rush
One issue the Commanders secondary has is an unfortunate byproduct of a lack of a pass rush. The Commanders defense has only been able to muster two sacks this season, which is the lowest in the NFL.
The Bengals offensive line was almost completely built in free agency, the lone home-grown player being left guard Cordell Volson. They’ve played fairly well, though right tackle Trent Brown has struggled at times.
This game has the potential to be a confidence builder for the Bengals’ offensive line, especially if they allow Burrow to sit back and wait for one of his many talented weapons to get open somewhere downfield.
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What matchup are you watching out for on Monday night?
