The Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Commanders went head-to-head on ESPN’s ‘Monday Night Football’ in Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season, with Washington earning a 38-33 victory over Cincinnati.
The Bengals will look to get a measure of revenge against the Commanders as the two square off in a preseason ‘MNF’ battle.
Cincinnati is planning to play its starters for at least part of the game against Washington. Coach Zac Taylor outlined the Bengals’ plan to do this as the team looks to buck its recent trend of slow starts to the regular season.
While Joe Burrow and Co. will be in action for preseason Week 2, the Commanders aren’t expected to play Jayden Daniels. It isn’t clear how many of their starters will be sitting, but Washington fans will still have plenty to look forward in the game, as rookies Josh Conerly Jr. and Jacory Croskey-Merritt look to prove they deserve sizable roles in the team’s offense this season.
USA TODAY Sports is tracking live updates from the Bengals vs. Commanders contest. Here’s a look at the major highlights and scoring updates from the preseason Week 2 NFL battle.
Bengals vs Commanders start time
Date: Monday, August 18, 2025
Time: 8 p.m. ET
The Bengals vs. Commanders preseason matchup will kick off at 8 p.m. ET Monday.
Bengals vs Commanders TV channel
Cable TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+ | Fubo
ESPN will broadcast the Bengals vs. Commanders game in preseason Week 2. The contest figures to serve as a tune-up for the network’s ‘Monday Night Football’ broadcast, with Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (analyst), Lisa Salters (sideline reporter) and Laura Rutledge (sideline reporter) on the call.
Watch ‘Monday Night Football’ with Fubo (free trial)
Bengals vs Commanders odds, moneyline, over/under
The Bengals are favorites to defeat the Commanders, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2025 including the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.
Spread: Bengals (-3)
Moneyline: Bengals (-165); Commanders (+140)
Over/under: 43.5
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Is Joe Burrow playing tonight?
Burrow will play about a quarter along with many of the other Bengals starters in the team’s second preseason contest. Head coach Zac Taylor has taken a different approach to playing the starters in the preseason this year, as he hopes to avoid a slow start to the regular season. Burrow and the starting offense led two touchdown drives against the Philadelphia Eagles in the preseason opener before checking out for the evening.
Is Jayden Daniels playing tonight?
Daniels is set to make his preseason debut on Monday night against the Bengals. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn announced that he won’t be in the game for long, but the team is hoping to play the quarterback for a few series.
Is there Monday Night Football today?
There is a ‘Monday Night Football’ game on today as Week 2 of the NFL preseason wraps up. The Washington Commanders are set to host the Cincinnati Bengals at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.