Commanders' biggest win from Bengals preseason defeat is painfully obvious

The Washington Commanders fell to their second straight preseason loss, emerging defeated from their Monday Night Football encounter with the Cincinnati Bengals. However, there were some notable positives to take from the clash.

While the running back dynamic took center stage as trade rumors swirled around previous starting option Brian Robinson Jr., the biggest win from an otherwise underwhelming evening at Northwest Stadium was painfully obvious.

Much was made throughout the offseason about the Commanders' concerns along their defensive front. Fans were worried that general manager Adam Peters didn't do enough to fortify the ranks, especially after releasing veteran defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and losing 10.5-sack edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys in free agency.

Commanders defense front once again caught the attention of fans for the right reasons

It's been a small sample size to date, but the signs are extremely encouraging.

The Bengals' offensive line cannot be classed as stellar by any stretch of the imagination. Even so, the pressure and overall havoc created by Washington's front four from the moment they got onto the field was eye-catching.

Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw set the tone as the line's anchors. Dorance Armstrong Jr. flashed on the edge and as a 3-technique on the interior, which was an intriguing package showcased over the early stages of training camp to full effect. Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow got the football out quickly more often than not, but it was refreshing to see the Commanders generate push consistently.

As the contest wore on, it was getting harder to ignore Jacob Martin. The free-agent signing looked explosive, getting off the snap quickly and giving the Bengals' protection all they could handle. His three quarterback hits, 0.5 sacks, and one tackle were a testament to his ability to make every rep count.

Considering the Commanders opted not to risk the likes of Von Miller and Bobby Wagner, the best could be yet to come. Things will get tougher during the regular season, but this might not be the weak link that some envisaged before Washington's preseason slate began.

Momentum is building. There is hope where once there was nothing but pessimism. It's clear the defensive trenches took their offseason criticism personally, which is spurring them to bigger and better things collectively in pursuit of one common goal.

One would expect this unit to progress encouragingly once Miller comes into the fold and more chemistry develops. It remains a precarious situation until further notice. Still, don't be surprised if Washington's defensive front performs above some modest expectations in 2025.

That's going to make things exponentially easier for everybody.

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