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Washington Commanders vs. Cincinnati Bengals: PFM Team Comparison

The Cincinnati Bengals hold a clear overall advantage over the Washington Commanders in the current PFM ratings. Cincinnati separates itself through the more dependable offense.

Current PFM Team Scores

WSH

Washington Commanders

78.7PFM Team Score#17 NFL
Clear edgeCIN

Cincinnati Bengals

83.6PFM Team Score#11 NFL
HEAD-TO-HEAD RESULTS

Washington Commanders vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Previous Meetings

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

Washington Commanders6 wins
Cincinnati Bengals5 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 Cincinnati Bengals bring the broader offense. The unit has more answers than Washington when the opening approach stalls. Washington's strongest counterargument is Coaching Direction. Dan Quinn gives the Washington Commanders the stronger coaching operation. Preparation and in-game answers matter once the opening script no longer controls the game.

Cincinnati still holds the overall PFM Team Score lead by 4.9 points. The Cincinnati Bengals still deserves the higher PFM rating.

TEAM DNA COMPARISON

Washington vs. Cincinnati 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.

WSHWashington Commanders
CINCincinnati Bengals
Washington Commanders vs. Cincinnati Bengals Team DNA comparisonPFM category scores on a 0 to 100 scale. QB Stability: Washington Commanders 84.1, Cincinnati Bengals 88.0, edge CIN +3.9; Offense: Washington Commanders 80.1, Cincinnati Bengals 88.0, edge CIN +7.9; Defense: Washington Commanders 76.8, Cincinnati Bengals 76.9, edge Even; Coaching Direction: Washington Commanders 78.3, Cincinnati Bengals 74.3, edge WSH +4.0; Roster Depth: Washington Commanders 78.4, Cincinnati Bengals 79.3, 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

Dan Quinn is the coaching difference. Washington has the more dependable answers when the first answer stops working. The coaching direction advantage is a real point in Washington's favor, but it does not outweigh the rest of the higher-rated team’s advantages. The problem for Washington is that Cincinnati counters with the more dependable offense.

COMPLETE COMPARISON

Where Each Team Has the Edge

PFM Team Score

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

Overall NFL Rank

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

QB Stability

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

Roster Strength

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

Coaching Direction

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

Recent Performance

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

Offense

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

Defense

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

Franchise Direction

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

Explosiveness

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

Conference Rank

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

Division Rank

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

Outlook

WSHIn the Playoff MixCINPlayoff Contender
Stronger outlook: Cincinnati Bengals
SCHEDULE CONTEXT

Which Team Has the Tougher Road?

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

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 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