Bengals-Commanders 2025 NFL preseason, Week 2: What We Learned from Cincinnati's 31-17 win

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1. Burrow survives to lead two scoring drives. When you’re looking for a fast start in the regular season, you’ve got to make it there first. Joe Burrow took a pair of worrisome sacks, but ultimately led the Bengals to a pair of touchdowns in three series’ worth of work. The onus on Burrow and other starters playing in the preseason is to avoid a 0-2 start for a fourth-straight regular season. Burrow was 9 of 10 for 123 yards and two touchdown passes against the Eagles in Cincy's preseason opener, but he wasn’t particularly impressed by his performance. Though that’s debatable, Monday’s saw Burrow and Co. struggle far more. He finished the evening with a 4-yard TD to Charlie Jones, but nothing came easy as he completed 9 of 14 passes for just 62 yards. The opening drive was a nine-play slog in which Chase Brown outmuscled Quan Martin for a 1-yard touchdown, but 30 yards and two first downs came on penalties against Washington. The second drive was flat-out frightening when Burrow circled and crisscrossed backward before he was sacked for a 17-yard loss. On the ensuing drive, Burrow was hammered for a 14-yard sack in which he fumbled. Ted Karras recovered and Washington was flagged for a horse collar. Eight plays later, Jones caught his TD and Burrow’s night ended. It wasn’t pretty. The Bengals offense is the overwhelming strength of the squad, so when all isn’t puppies and rainbows, there’s going to be nitpicking, because the Cincinnati defense has just been getting picked on.
2. Jayden makes everything better. Not all has been well in Washington, but Jayden Daniels changed the narrative and the vibes on Monday night, if only for one impressive series. Daniels taking the field provided excitement aplenty on its own when he made his 2025 preseason debut. Then he piloted the Commanders on a four-play, 74-yard sprint of a touchdown drive that he capped with a 14-yard touchdown run. Daniels didn’t even attempt a pass, but after big runs from Deebo Samuel and Chris Rodriguez Jr., Daniels dropped back to the Bengals 23-yard line before weaving forward through the trenches and sprinting for six, but not before he broke through a horrendous excuse for a tackle attempt from a Cincinnati defender. That was it. A cameo from the Commanders franchise quarterback. Heading into the game, Brian Robinson -- a trade candidate -- wasn’t suited up. Terry McLaurin -- still seeking an extension -- wasn’t there either. And starting guards Sam Cosmi and Brandon Coleman are dealing with injuries. Thus, for a club that had turned around decades of frustration last season with a run to the NFC Championship Game, things feel a bit precarious right now. With a burgeoning star like Daniels, though, anything seems possible heading into 2025.  
3. Tinsley has a night. Already loaded at wide receiver, Cincinnati might have found another weapon in Mitchell Tinsley. An undrafted free agent who appeared in two games for the Commanders last season, Tinsley returned to Washington and had himself a night. Showing off stellar hands and leaping ability, Tinsley turned in five catches for 73 yards and two touchdowns in the first half! His first score was a 13-yarder thrown to his outside shoulder in which he spun back to the outside for a high-point grab. He outdid himself on a 21-yard score with six seconds left in the second quarter when he once more went to the skies for a high ball that he pulled down while getting his feet inside the backline. His best catch might well have been a ball over the middle in which his initial attempt was batted away only for Tinsley to haul in the reception with one hand while falling forward. Both his TDs were thrown by Jake Browning and it remains to be seen if Tinsley can lock up a roster spot in the hopes of catching regular-season balls from Joe Burrow. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins lead a WR room that also boasts Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones. 2024 third-rounder Jermaine Burton remains a question mark and Tinsley’s magnificent Monday clouds things, but if you’re Burrow, you can never have too many weapons. He might’ve found another one.
4. With Robinson absent, Commanders rushing attack flexes might. Washington’s new-look running game shot out of a cannon on Monday night and molly whopped Cincinnati. On the first play from scrimmage, Deebo Samuel’s first touch in a Washington uniform saw him run for 19 yards on a jet sweep. On the very next play, Chris Rodriguez Jr. cut outside beautifully, then darted back in for 40 yards. Two plays later, Jayden Daniels danced in for a 14-yard score. Not done imposing their will, the Commanders scored on their second drive when Bill Croskey-Merritt blasted off for a 27-yard touchdown. Over those first two drives, Washington ran the ball six times for 106 yards and 12 points. With the big news ahead of the game being the likely exit of Brian Robinson, the performances and potential of Rodriguez -- heading into his third season -- and the rookie Croskey-Merritt was apparent. Veteran Austin Ekeler was also on the sidelines taking it all in and providing further reason to believe that without Robinson, Washington’s run game -- which returns the team’s 2024 leading rusher, Daniels -- has plenty to offer. Playing devil’s advocate, though, is that the impressive start came against a Bengals defense that looks porous through two preseason games, having allowed 34 points in a loss to the Eagles.