Game Recap: Bengals at Redskins

August 16, 2019

by Jay Evans

The Redskins faced the Cincinnati Bengals in the second game of the preseason on Thursday night, losing by a score of 13 – 23 to fall to 0 – 2. What to take stock in is up for debate, as the time doesn’t count and the score is meaningless.

If you had hope that the Redskins would actually register a heartbeat compared to the flatlined performance from a week ago against the Cleveland Browns then you are likely pleased. If you came away concerned about the flags and the special teams, then code red is on the horizon.

Let us be…flag… in with the opening dr….flag and th… flag. The first drive of the game began in a sloppy sorts, disrupted by fouls on both sides. With the Bengals on offense, a large majority of the Redskins starting defense was present on the field.

After sitting most of the starting lineup last week, the defense resembled a unit oozing of talent and swag. Strong safety Landon Collins opened up the first play with a heavy hit coming downhill on C.J. Uzomah and on the very next play was hovering on the opposite side of the field.

The soft zone that the Redskins played in the first preseason game against the Browns was nonexistent. Josh Norman was in the read and react position he thrives while showing the aggressiveness to attack receivers in the flat. On one play, safety Montae Nicholson was three yards into the backfield, which broke up a sweep run by the Bengals.

For the first time in a Redskins uniform, Montez Sweat was active and showed a sign of things to come, rushing the passer from multiple angles. Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, and Matt Ioannidis gave viewers the first look at the strength of the defense as they opened up on the interior of the Giants offense. Colllins showed his all-pro caliber play and the linebackers rotated frequently to coverage.

On the third or fourth penalty of the game (I honestly stopped counting in the first five minutes) it was Payne’s presence that stopped a promising play and eventually the entire Bengals drive. The Bengals’ offense called a set dive play, run between guard and center, to the left. A double block pushed Payne two yards off the ball and he held at which point the defense swarmed to the impeded runner.

After three straight personal fouls on the defense, Nicholson delivered the first score of the game on a 96-yard interception return for a touchdown, but it was Payne who deflected the ball at the line of scrimmage that led to the turnover.

The first series for the Redskins offense came midway through the first quarter. Looking fresh, future hall-of-famer Adrian Peterson just looked different on the field against a mix bag of professional talent for the Bengals. On the first offensive play Ereck Flowers and Geron Christian sealed off a cut block that gave way to an easy five yards. Peterson did the rest and gained thirty yards on the opening carry.

Case Keenum led the offense on a potential scoring drive in his first series; however, a disastrous night for the kicking game kept the score at 6-0. Dustin Hopkins missed a 50-yard field goal after an errant snap that saw the ball skid off the turf.

Ryan Finley took over the Bengals offense from Andy Dalton and led them on a perfect drive, beating Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie and Greg Stroman repeatedly. Finley’s perfect drive ended with the score tied at 6-6 because of another missed extra point.

The Redskins’ prized rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins entered the game midway through the second period and threw his first score as a professional when he hit Robert Davis in stride for a 55-yard touchdown. On the play, Haskins stuck in the pocket on a collapsing blitz to his left. Unfazed by the pressure, he saw the rotation in the safeties before the play and followed through, delivering a scoring strike.

With a 13-6 lead late in the third quarter, the Redskins attempted multiple deep passes, but a strip-sack and fumble gave the Bengals the ball back in the redzone. The Bengals quickly scored on a pick play to even the game at 13 a piece.

The kicking game was pathetic for both squads as both teams missed extra point and field goal attempts. Tristan Vizcaino eventually broke the tie with a field goal at 8:14 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Bengals a 16-13 lead.

Deep into the fourth quarter, the offensive and defensive lines of the Redskins were outmatched and another special teams gaffe cost the Redskins. For the second week in a row, a punt return was taken back for a touchdown, as Cincinnati’s Alex Erickson went for 75 yards and stretched the lead to 23-13 in the Bengals favor.

Evidenced by last night’s game, the offense is a work in progress, as both veterans and newcomers simultaneously showed both their talents and limitations. Peterson displayed uncommon quickness and agility not normally seen in preseason work and Haskins quickly exhibited his promise on his first NFL touchdown.

The kicking game under newly arrived special teams coordinator Nick Kaczor is off to a horrible start, having surrendered two punt returns in back-to-back weeks. Haskins turned the ball over again and the Redskins were penalized throughout the game.

Depending on how one viewed this game, it  could be seen as either a spirited performance or another example of blundering listlessness. The Redskins legitimized their starting defense in the first series of the game, and maybe all they had to do was show up. After all, it’s just the preseason, right?