Washington Commanders at Bengals early odds and prediction for Week 3

The Washington Commanders got the monkey off their back with a hard-fought win over the New York Giants in Week 2. That was a big and necessary step in front of an expectant fanbase. Much more will be needed if head coach Dan Quinn wants to navigate a difficult run of upcoming games versus high-quality opposition.

This testing part of the schedule begins with a Monday Night Football road showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals. The AFC North team has nothing to show from their opening two contests, but they ran the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs close last time out. That is some comfort despite a luckless opening to the campaign.

It's a solid measuring stick at this early stage for the Commanders. All hope is not lost with the Bengals and it would be a surprise if they weren't in the playoff picture at season's end. How Quinn's side performs in a challenging environment with the entire NFL world watching will form a key part of his initial assessments.

Can the Commanders shock the league with a nationally televised triumph? Or will the Bengals use this as a get-right game en route to better fortunes moving forward?

Commanders at Bengals early odds for Week 3

According to the latest odds from FanDuel Sportsbook, the Commanders are 8.5-point underdogs at the Bengals in Week 3.

• Washington +8.5 points: -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
• Cincinnati -8.5 points: -105 (bet $105 to win $100)

Anyone fancying Washington on the money line can get odds of +330 currently (bet $100 to win $330). Cincinnati is favored to pick up its first victory of the campaign with the national spotlight glaring at -420 (bet $420 to win $100).

FanDuel Sportsbook is expecting an entertaining affair between the two teams on Monday Night Football with the over/under set at 48.5 points.

• Over 48.5 points: -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
• Under 48.5 points: -115 (bet $115 to win $100)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

Commanders at Bengals prediction for Week 3

This is a tough challenge for the Commanders, there's no getting away from that. Their backs are against the wall versus a talented team on the road who'll be looking to recover from an indifferent opening. At the same time, the pressure is all on the Bengals.

Zac Taylor cannot afford to start the season at 0-3. That would be unacceptable given the wealth of prolific weapons on both sides of the football. Couple this with being on primetime and performing in front of their restless fans, the need to emerge victorious versus a rebuilding Commanders team cannot be overstated.

It's something Washington can use to its advantage. Nobody is expecting them to triumph. Using this to take the heat off and play with an extra sense of freedom is only going to help their cause. If Joe Whitt Jr.'s defense can raise performance levels, the Commanders aren't without a chance.

• Prediction: Commanders win

This might be too optimistic for the third game with Quinn leading the charge. However, the Commanders will gain plenty of confidence from ending their nine-game losing run dating back to the previous campaign under Ron Rivera. If they put this to good use and Washington silences the crowd right out of the gate, it could provide the platform for a shocking success.

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