Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow assessed his team's effort in an NFL preseason game against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, on Monday Night Football, during a third-quarter interview with ESPN's Laura Rutledge.

A couple of receivers make strong cases while the starting defense is once again woeful in 31-17 win over the Commanders.

For the Washington Commanders and the Cincinnati Bengals, the biggest storylines for Monday's preseason game were the players not playing. Cincinnati star edge defender Trey Hendrickson remains a hold-in at training camp,

Joe Burrow looked very much ready for the regular season as the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Washington Commanders in a Monday Night Football exhibition, completing 9-of-14 passes for 62 yards and ending two of his three drives in the end zone. But it was what happened on the unsuccessful series that caught the eye of ESPN's halftime panel.

The Cincinnati Bengals want to start the season better than they have in years past, but this perceived "narrative" of a mindset shift isn't rubbing off well on some.