The Cincinnati Bengals visit the Washington Commanders tonight in Week 2 of the 2025 preseason at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., under the lights of Monday Night Football on ESPN.
Cincinnati plans to play Joe Burrow and the first-team offense for about a quarter, after a sharp Week 1 showing (9-of-10, 123 yards, 2 TD). Expect a brief but meaningful tune-up before backups take over.
Washington will also play starters for a few series, including second-year QB Jayden Daniels (the 2024 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year), making his preseason debut. Head coach Dan Quinn indicated the run will be limited. Wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown will not dress out for the game.
4 Things to Watch
Burrow’s early rhythm — Does Cincinnati’s first unit carry over last week’s precision into another efficient scoring drive or two?
Daniels’ measured cameo — How sharp does the 2024 OROY look in a short MNF stint within Dan Quinn’s plan for “a few series”?
Perimeter battles — Washington’s corners get a real test against Ja’Marr Chase/Tee Higgins in live reps, even if brief.
Depth snapshot — Once starters exit, focus turns to OL rotations, back-seven depth, and backup QB/WR timing on both sides.
How to Watch Bengals vs. Commanders
Kickoff for tonight’s Bengals–Commanders game is set for 8:00 PM Eastern at Northwest Stadium in Landover, MD.
The game will be televised nationally on ESPN and streams live on the ESPN app and website.
ESPN streaming access is included in most cable, satellite, and streaming packages. But if you don’t have access to it, you can watch the game for free by taking advantage of a free trial from DIRECTV, Hulu + Live TV, Roku, or YouTube TV.
Sling TV offers the cheapest package that includes ESPN at $45.99/month.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington Commanders
Date: Monday, August 18, 2025
Time: 8:00 p.m. Eastern
Venue: Northwest Stadium, Landover, MD
TV: ESPN (national)
Streaming: ESPN app/ESPN+; NFL+ (preseason access); eligible live-TV trials (DIRECTV, Hulu + Live TV
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