NFL.com breaks down Week 2 of the preseason, concluding with the Cincinnati Bengals' win over the Washington Commanders on "Monday Night Football."

Defensive coordinator Al Golden was quick to defend his players when asked questions about why he’s optimistic despite some shaky performances in the exhibition games. Golden said the focus right now is not showing too much of the Bengals’ defensive scheme for competitive reasons.

The third week of the 2025 NFL preseason kicked off Thursday as teams take their final look at key position battles ahead of Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline to trim rosters to 53 players. To keep you updated on how teams fared, our NFL Nation reporters are summarizing each game below and predicting each team's 53-man roster.

The Week 2 NFL preseason schedule closes out when the Cincinnati Bengals visit the Washington Commanders on Monday. Last week, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Bengals, 34-27. On the other side, the Commanders were blown out 48-18 by the New England Patriots.

Cincinnati Bengals rookie LB Demetrius Knight, Jr. has made big plays in training camp practice, but has struggled in preseason games.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow took multiple dangerous hits in the team's preseason game against the Commanders on Monday night, as fans had to look away.

ESPN had Cincinnati drafting 24th overall based on preseason ESPN Football Power Index simulations. He slotted the Bengals with Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor at that spot.

The game does change during the preseason with actual game planning and star players on the field, but there are things we can learn in these exhibition matchups. Here are five questions answered after the second round of games.