3 tricky conundrums the Commanders must solve in Week 3 at the Bengals

The deck looks to be stacked against the Washington Commanders in Week 3. The Cincinnati Bengals are hopping mad after losing at the Kansas City Chiefs on a last-second field goal. They went nose-to-nose with the two-time defending Super Bowl champions and felt the game was stolen from them by a pass interference call in the final minute.

The Bengals have been notoriously slow starters under Zac Taylor. This is the fifth time in six seasons they have begun 0-2. In each of the last two years, they won their third game. They may be getting star wide receiver Tee Higgins back from injury this week and perennial Pro Bowl wideout Ja'Marr Chase should be rounding into better form after sitting out the entire preseason.

That's bad news for the Commanders. But all hope is not lost.

Kliff Kingsbury’s offense moved the ball well against the New York Giants, especially on the ground where Brian Robinson Jr. had his best game as a pro. But the offense sputtered badly in the red zone.

Sometimes it was due to penalties. Sometimes, poor execution and unimaginative play-calling. Whatever the reason, that needs to be fixed if the Commanders are to have any chance on Monday Night Football.

Field goals against the Giants' anemic offense proved just good enough for the victory. That will not be the case against the likes of Chase, Higgins, and quarterback Joe Burrow.

If we set aside the red zone struggles, here are three tricky conundrums the Commanders must solve entering Week 3 at the Bengals.

Tricky conundrums facing the Commanders in Week 3 at Bengals

Stopping Trey Hendrickson

Trey Hendrickson has recorded 39.5 sacks since joining the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021. He has been to the Pro Bowl in each of his three campaigns. He had another two sacks and drew at least one crucial penalty against the offensive lineman trying to block him at the Kansas City Chiefs. That lineman was rookie Kingsley Suamataia, drafted in the second round last spring. He was a player many Washington Commanders fans hoped general manager Adam Peters might select.

Any team playing the Bengals will need to account for Hendrickson. In Washington’s case, it is even more important.

Hendrickson will move around the line, but he will usually line up at the right defensive end spot. That means he will be squaring off against either Cornelius Lucas or Brandon Coleman.

Lucas would seem to be a better bet at this point, but he has trouble with speed rushers, and Hendrickson is very fast. Coleman may be better able to mirror him, but the rookie is still very green. Suamataia was considered more pro-ready coming out of college and we all saw how things unfolded in Week 2.

Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson destroyed Washington’s offense with three sacks in Week 2 last season. He was virtually unstoppable in the second half. Hendrickson is a similar type of player. Kliff Kingsbury and offensive line coach Bobby Johnson better figure out a way to slow him down.

That may involve John Bates helping out on a lot of plays - especially deeper shots that will require a little extra time. That will leave Washington’s offense more susceptible to blitzing.

The Bengals do not have a lot of pass-rushing talent behind Hendrickson. If the Commanders can contain him, they may have success getting the ball downfield.