After two weeks of the 2023 NFL preseason, the Bengals come into this game 0-1-1 while the Commanders sit at 2-0. The Bengals are looking to end the preseason on a high note after tying the Falcons 13-13 last week, and the Commanders are looking to close out a perfect preseason after ending the Ravens’ 24-game preseason win streak.
The Bengals will again be without star quarterback Joe Burrow as he recovers from a calf injury and will turn to Jake Browning and Trevor Siemian under center. The Commanders’ newly anointed starting quarterback, Sam Howell, will look to build on a solid performance last week as new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy continues the installation of his offense.
The Commanders played their starters more than the Bengals did last week, but we should expect to see more starters for each team, as this is the last chance for them to get their feet wet before the regular season.
Bengals vs Commanders Odds
NFL odds used for this Away City vs Home City preview were found at DraftKings Sportsbook and are current as of August 24 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Commanders (-205) • Bengals (+170)
- Spread: Commanders -4.5 (-110) • Bengals +4.5 (-110)
- Total Points: Over 37 (-110) • Under 37 (-110)
- Implied Score: Commanders 20.75, Bengals 16.25
Bengals vs Commanders Predictions
Score Pick: Commanders 24, Bengals 20
While the Commanders have been using the preseason to implement a new offensive system and integrate new starters, the Bengals have been taking a different approach and slowly ramping up toward the regular season.
Sam Howell looked good in going 19-of-25 for 188 yards and two touchdowns against the Ravens, while Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Antonion Gibson, and Brian Robinson Jr. all saw a decent amount of work (especially Dotson in catching five balls for 76 yards).
Browning and Siemian are locked in a battle to back up Burrow and split time last week against the Falcons. Browning put up better numbers than Siemian in going 16-of-22 for 140 yards with four rushes for 50 yards, but he also threw an interception.
We’ll unlikely see either team’s starters for more than a half (at most), so this will come down to a battle of the backups like most preseason games. With the approach each team has been taking to the preseason and the quality of the backups (especially at quarterback), the home team should have the edge this week.
Bengals vs Commanders Best Bets & Props
Bengals +4.5 (-110)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.5 units
While I think the Commanders will win based on all the factors above, they haven’t won either of their preseason games by more than two points. Could they combine the abovementioned factors and blow the doors off a Burrow-less Cincinnati team? Sure. But it’s still the preseason (and they’re still the Commanders), so I’m not ready to take the plunge on the Commanders.
As evidenced by their tie last week, the Bengals should be able to keep things close enough to cover on the road once we get into a battle of the backups.
Over 37 (-110)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
My NFL bet of the day is both teams putting up enough points to hit the over this week. Even though the Bengals don’t have Burrow, they moved the ball enough with Browning and Siemian last week to make me think they’ll be able to do so again against the Commanders – especially since Washington gave up four touchdowns to the Ravens’ backups.
On the Commanders’ side of things, Howell looked promising last week and has a good group of weapons around him to put pressure on a Bengals defense that limited Atlanta but gave up 38 points to the Packers two weeks ago. They also have capable backups in Jacoby Brissett and Jake Fromm, so it won’t be a huge downgrade once Howell is pulled.
Regardless of how much the starters play this week, we should see enough offense to get us Over 37.
Commanders (-205)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
The -205 line doesn’t present an extreme value, but the Commanders have enough things going for them in this matchup (including being at home) to take the moneyline.
While we’ll likely see many backups in this game (hello, Fromm, Brissett, Chris Rodriguez, and others fighting for a position or roster spot), we should see at least a quarter from the Commanders’ starters.
While we can’t know how much Bengals head coach Zac Taylor will play his starters, we know that group won’t include MVP candidate Burrow, so Cincinnati is already starting from a deficit talent-wise.
Bengals vs Commanders Same Game Parlay
Bengals vs Commanders SGP (+264)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
- Bengals +4.5 (-110)
- Over 37 (-110)
I wouldn’t blame anyone for going with a parlay of the Over and the Commanders covering (you get the same parlay odds if you feel that strongly about the Commanders), but as mentioned above, I think the Bengals will be able to keep things close and cover the spread.
As long as you follow that logic, there’s some value here to combine the Bengals cover with the over and essentially double your bet.
