Redskins at Bengals: Highlights, score and recap
By James Dudko
The Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Redskins meet at London’s Wembley Stadium in Week 8. Read on for highlights, score updates and a recap of the action.
It’s a vital game for both teams, with each needing to stay in touch in their respective divisions. For the Bengals, it means reaching parity at the season’s halfway point and keeping the pressure on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North.
As for Washington, the Redskins will be hoping to avoid dropping to .500. It would mean falling further off the pace in an NFC East division currently bossed by the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.
Highlights
Highlights will be posted as and when they happen.
Three stars
1. A.J. Green
It could be an easier week than A.J. Green expects if Redskins cornerback Josh Norman misses out. Norman is in concussion protocol and is listed as “questionable” for the game, per Stephen Czarda of the team’s official site.
No Norman would mean Washington facing a mismatch wherever Green lines up. The Bengals are moving No. 18 all over formations this season, and offensive coordinator Ken Zampese is sure to find ways of isolating Green against suspect defensive backs.
2. Jeremy Hill
Cincinnati’s lead workhorse has been inconsistent this season, but Jeremy Hill should still feel confident about wearing down a soft Washington run defense. The Redskins are 30th in the NFL in rushing yards against per attempt, allowing five yards a carry, according to Sporting Charts.
Washington’s defense is also ranked 26th when surrendering runs of 10 yards or more, per the same source. The Bengals can exploit this weaknesses, provided Zampese leans on the run.
He has two good backs in Hill and Giovani Bernard, as well as a powerful, drive-blocking O-line. Plus, Hill is the type of straight-ahead bruiser the Redskins have struggled to stand up to this season.
3. Trent Murphy
Washington’s best bet of slowing the Bengals will be to get to quarterback Andy Dalton. Fortunately, the Redskins are loaded with three capable edge-rushers in Ryan Kerrigan, Preston Smith and Trent Murphy.
It’s the latter who can run riot at Wembley. Murphy is the situational rush end Washington DC Joe Barry loves to move around to create havoc for blocking schemes.
The ex-Stanford man has already played his way into six sacks this season. His movement will be a problem for a Cincy offensive line that’s surrendered 22 sacks through seven games.
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The Bengals will at least have Andrew Whitworth back, after the left tackle was cleared to play, according to Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer. He’ll handle Smith, but Murphy will be a matchup problem for other blockers on third downs.
Next Week
Both teams will be given a bye next week after hopping across the pond.