FRIDAY NIGHT PRESEASON NFL: CINCINNATI BENGALS AT WASHTINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM

BY ADAM GREENE

Of the two NFL preseason games competing for our Friday night attention, the Cincinnati Bengals at the Washington Football Team loses the marquee battle immediately. The WFT boasts Ryan Fitzpatrick as their starting quarterback, a guy who probably won’t retire until he suits up for every team in the league. Washington is his ninth, by the way, so that just leaves 23 to go.

Fitzpatrick has already knocked the Bengals off his list, playing there from 2007-2008. Their current starter, Joe Burrow, is returning from a bad season ending knee injury. They are rightly being careful with JoeBurr and he will do nothing but watch the game as a spectator in between getting interviewed by the broadcast team while they completely miss one of the most important and exciting plays in the game.

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT WASHINGTON FOOTBAL TEAM (-4.5 O/U 35)

Location: FedEx Field, Landover, Md.

Broadcast: NFL

Kickoff: Aug. 20, 8 p.m. EST

CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-0)

While Joe Burrow won’t play, the Bengals should be more than happy to get a good look at their potential back ups — Brandon Allen and Kyle Shurmur. Both guys threw interceptions last week in Cincy’s 19-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but were solid for the most part. Allen, who played under head coach Zac Taylor when they were both with the Los Angeles Rams, went 7 of 10 for 77 yards. Shurmur, the son of former NFL head coach and current Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, was 12 of 19 for 108 yards. The standout for Cincinnati was second year running back Jacques Patrick, who carried 15 times for 71 yards and averaged 4.7 yards per carry.

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM (0-1)

While you can’t take NFL preseason games too seriously, you don’t want to go winless. It doesn’t bode well for the regular season and considering the dumpster fire that the NFC East continues to look like, WFT can’t afford to just relax, even in an exhibition. Washington dropped their opener 22-13 to the New England Patriots last week, but didn’t get poor performances out of their assumed back ups either. Taylor Heinicke was 9 of 15 for 86 yards. Steve Montez finished 15 of 24 for 108 yards, one touchdown and one interception. I expect to see Fitzpatrick probably play a quarter, then Heinicke  and Kyle Allen before Montez mops up late in the fourth.

THE PICK

WFT needs a better look at Heinicke and Allen. Both guys have started and played well in NFL games. Cincy is just trying to hit the sim button to the regular season and Joe Burrow time. And since Taylor is very much a Sean McVay disciple, I wouldn’t expect to see much of their starters at any position. WFT 23, Bengals 13

Last week

Straight up: 6-10

Against the spread: 5-11

Preseason

Straight up: 7-10

Against the spread: 6-11

The NFL season begins on Thursday, Sep. 9 and the Week 1 Schedule is already up and taking bets at BetOnline.AG.

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