The Washington Redskins are all set to make their preseason home debut this coming Thursday or almost a week after they got mauled by the Cleveland Browns. They will be up against another AFC North team in the form of the visiting Cincinnati Bengals, who are also searching for their first win of the year. The Redskins are +720 to win the NFC East, while the Bengals are +950to win the AFC North.
Zac Taylor’s head coaching debut for the Bengals ended in a lopsided 38-17 road loss at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bengals kept in step with Kansas City in the first two quarters before their wheels went off in the second half in which they were outscored, 21-10. The Bengals mostly shot themselves in the foot by repeatedly committing penalties– they had a total of 11 for 115 yards. They also had four turnovers, including two interceptions, one apiece by Ryan Finley and Jeff Driskel. They also had two turnovers when returning punts. These are avoidable errors that should be cleaned up if the Bengals are to have some success in the preseason. Rookie running back Trayveon Williams, who was drafted in the sixth round, could be held back for at least the Washington game after bruising his ribs in the loss to Kansas City. He had a rushing touchdown in Week 1 of the preseason but was inefficient in rushing for five yards on five carries.
The Bengals are 4-2 against the spread (ATS) in their last six preseason games.
Betting on Washington Redskins (0-1 Preseason)
The Redskins were the first victims this year of the seemingly reinvigorated Cleveland Browns, as they took a 30-10 hammering against Baker Mayfield and company on the road last Thursday. The game was also a notable one for the Redskins, as it saw first-round pick quarterback Dwayne Haskins make his preseason debut. Haskins struggled mightily, going 8 of 14 for 117 passing yards with zero touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Haskins has a long way to go, and playing in this kind of games will help him hasten his professional maturity. That’s another way of saying to not bet on the rookie to start in Week 1 of the regular season, a job that is now for Case Keenum to lose. Keenum went just 4 of 9 for 60 yards and a touchdown in his debut for Washington against the Browns, and he’s going to see more action, as he tries to acclimate himself in Washington’s playing atmosphere — and playbook.
The over is 3-0 in the Redskins’ last three preseason games.
