3 reasons the Washington Commanders will beat the Bengals in Week 3

Commanders' big stars finally show up

There came a time last year when Jonathan Allen looked like he might be headed out of the door. Then the new regime came into the Washington Commanders, and everyone began jumping on the Adam Peters train.

With good reason. The new general manager has succeeded greatly everywhere he's been around the league.

Allen and defensive tackle partner Daron Payne are both on massive contracts. However, neither of them has performed as many expected going into this reinvigorated season.

Is this the correct narrative?

If you go back and look at the tape, both Allen and Payne are getting double-teamed. Sometimes on the same play. Without any seriously dangerous edge rushers around, teams are right to focus on the two hulks in the middle and make someone else get to the quarterback.

This is where Joe Whitt Jr. is going to have to make his money. The Commanders simply can't go through the entire season getting one sack per week. That can't happen.

Against a dangerous Cincinnati Bengals' passing attack, look for Whitt and head coach Dan Quinn to show some creativity to pressure Joe Burrow, and hopefully create a turnover here or there. Even if they don't, this is not the type of primetime position that gets to the Commanders' defensive tackles.

Neither has notched a sack or an extremely significant play yet. But it's only a matter of time.

They're both way too good to not show up in a very big way at some point soon. A big third-down sack, a batted ball into an interception, a forced fumble. Expect one, if not both, to have their best games of the season so far in Week 3.

As for Allen? While everyone is considering the chance that he may be gone soon, he intends to remind people that he is a top 50 player in the NFL.

More Commanders news and analysis