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Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington Commanders: PFM Team Comparison

PFM rates the Cincinnati Bengals higher than the Washington Commanders overall, with a clear advantage. The main reasons are the more dependable offense.

Current PFM Team Scores

Clear edgeCIN

Cincinnati Bengals

83.6PFM Team Score#11 NFL
WSH

Washington Commanders

78.7PFM Team Score#17 NFL
HEAD-TO-HEAD RESULTS

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington Commanders: Previous Meetings

Washington Commanders lead the recorded series 6–5 over 12 meetings. 1 game ended in a tie.

Cincinnati Bengals5 wins
Washington Commanders6 wins
Ties1
Recorded meetings12

Recent Meetings

DateMatchupFinalWinner
Sep 23, 2024Washington Commanders at Cincinnati Bengals38–33Washington Commanders
  1. Sep 23, 20242024 season
    Washington CommandersAway38 – 33Cincinnati BengalsHome
    Washington Commanders won
Earlier meetings (9)
DateMatchupFinalWinner
Nov 22, 2020Cincinnati Bengals at Washington Commanders9–20Washington Commanders
Oct 30, 2016Washington Commanders vs. Cincinnati Bengals27–27Tie
Sep 23, 2012Cincinnati Bengals at Washington Commanders38–31Cincinnati Bengals
Dec 14, 2008Washington Commanders at Cincinnati Bengals13–20Cincinnati Bengals
Nov 14, 2004Cincinnati Bengals at Washington Commanders17–10Cincinnati Bengals
Sep 22, 1991Washington Commanders at Cincinnati Bengals34–27Washington Commanders
Dec 17, 1988Washington Commanders at Cincinnati Bengals17–20Cincinnati Bengals
Dec 15, 1985Cincinnati Bengals at Washington Commanders24–27Washington Commanders
Dec 9, 1979Cincinnati Bengals at Washington Commanders14–28Washington Commanders
  1. Nov 22, 20202020 season
    Cincinnati BengalsAway9 – 20Washington CommandersHome
    Washington Commanders won
  2. Oct 30, 20162016 season
    Washington CommandersNeutral site27 – 27Cincinnati BengalsNeutral site
    Tied game
  3. Sep 23, 20122012 season
    Cincinnati BengalsAway38 – 31Washington CommandersHome
    Cincinnati Bengals won
  4. Dec 14, 20082008 season
    Washington CommandersAway13 – 20Cincinnati BengalsHome
    Cincinnati Bengals won
  5. Nov 14, 20042004 season
    Cincinnati BengalsAway17 – 10Washington CommandersHome
    Cincinnati Bengals won
  6. Sep 22, 19911991 season
    Washington CommandersAway34 – 27Cincinnati BengalsHome
    Washington Commanders won
  7. Dec 17, 19881988 season
    Washington CommandersAway17 – 20Cincinnati BengalsHome
    Cincinnati Bengals won
  8. Dec 15, 19851985 season
    Cincinnati BengalsAway24 – 27Washington CommandersHome
    Washington Commanders won
  9. Dec 9, 19791979 season
    Cincinnati BengalsAway14 – 28Washington CommandersHome
    Washington Commanders won
Swap Teams Clear Comparison
PFM JUDGMENT

Why PFM Rates the Cincinnati Bengals Higher

The offensive edge favors the Cincinnati Bengals because the unit has the better week-to-week floor. It can keep moving even when the first answer is taken away. Washington's strongest counterargument is Coaching Direction. Dan Quinn is the coaching difference. Washington has the more dependable answers when the first answer stops working.

Cincinnati still holds the overall PFM Team Score lead by 4.9 points. PFM still has the Cincinnati Bengals in front.

TEAM DNA COMPARISON

Cincinnati vs. Washington Across the Core Pillars

The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.

CINCincinnati Bengals
WSHWashington Commanders
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington Commanders Team DNA comparisonPFM category scores on a 0 to 100 scale. QB Stability: Cincinnati Bengals 88.0, Washington Commanders 84.1, edge CIN +3.9; Offense: Cincinnati Bengals 88.0, Washington Commanders 80.1, edge CIN +7.9; Defense: Cincinnati Bengals 76.9, Washington Commanders 76.8, edge Even; Coaching Direction: Cincinnati Bengals 74.3, Washington Commanders 78.3, edge WSH +4.0; Roster Depth: Cincinnati Bengals 79.3, Washington Commanders 78.4, edge CIN +0.9. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team at a time.
Hover or tap a team to focus that profile. Use Show Both to bring the overlay back.
THE COUNTERARGUMENT

Washington Commanders’ Best Argument

The Washington Commanders have the stronger coaching operation under Dan Quinn. The advantage shows up in preparation, adjustments and pressure situations. That is why the overall gap is smaller than the score first suggests. Cincinnati still answers with the more dependable offense, which keeps the overall judgment in place.

COMPLETE COMPARISON

Where Each Team Has the Edge

PFM Team Score

CIN83.6
Cincinnati Bengals 83.6
WSH78.7
Washington Commanders 78.7
Clear Cincinnati Bengals edge

Overall NFL Rank

CIN#11
Cincinnati Bengals #11
WSH#17
Washington Commanders #17
Cincinnati Bengals ranks higher

QB Stability

CIN88.0
Cincinnati Bengals 88.0
WSH84.1
Washington Commanders 84.1
Clear Cincinnati Bengals edge

Roster Strength

CIN79.3
Cincinnati Bengals 79.3
WSH78.4
Washington Commanders 78.4
Slight Cincinnati Bengals edge

Coaching Direction

CIN74.3
Cincinnati Bengals 74.3
WSH78.3
Washington Commanders 78.3
Clear Washington Commanders edge

Recent Performance

CIN86.0
Cincinnati Bengals 86.0
WSH71.3
Washington Commanders 71.3
Major Cincinnati Bengals edge

Offense

CIN88.0
Cincinnati Bengals 88.0
WSH80.1
Washington Commanders 80.1
Clear Cincinnati Bengals edge

Defense

CIN76.9
Cincinnati Bengals 76.9
WSH76.8
Washington Commanders 76.8
Essentially even

Franchise Direction

CIN75.4
Cincinnati Bengals 75.4
WSH77.6
Washington Commanders 77.6
Clear Washington Commanders edge

Explosiveness

CIN84.9
Cincinnati Bengals 84.9
WSH82.1
Washington Commanders 82.1
Clear Cincinnati Bengals edge

Conference Rank

CIN#5
Cincinnati Bengals #5
WSH#9
Washington Commanders #9
Cincinnati Bengals ranks higher

Division Rank

CIN#1
Cincinnati Bengals #1
WSH#1
Washington Commanders #1
Even rank

Outlook

CINPlayoff ContenderWSHIn the Playoff Mix
Stronger outlook: Cincinnati Bengals
SCHEDULE CONTEXT

Which Team Has the Tougher Road?

Cincinnati Bengals

Remaining schedule rank: #32

Toughest stretch: New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs

Strongest opponents: Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders

Next five difficulty: 79.2

View Cincinnati Bengals Road Ahead

Washington Commanders

Remaining schedule rank: #25

Toughest stretch: Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys

Strongest opponents: Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans

Next five difficulty: 76.9

View Washington Commanders Road Ahead

Washington has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 25. The strongest opponents include Jacksonville Jaguars, the Cincinnati Bengals, and Houston Texans. Cincinnati also has the more favorable road, which adds to the more dependable offense.

View the complete all-32 Road Ahead

Ratings and Schedule Freshness

PFM ratings updated November 10, 2026. Schedule data updated November 12, 2026.

How to Read This Comparison

PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.

PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.

See the complete PFM NFL Team Rankings and methodology.

Historical results: sources and coverage

Results shown: 1970–2024.

Historical scores: FiveThirtyEight (CC BY 4.0). Scores since 1999: nflverse (CC BY 4.0). Earlier meetings that have not been verified are excluded.

PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams