The Cincinnati Bengals and the Washington Football Team were the two worst teams in football in 2019, and if the current season ended today, both would be in the bottom five of the NFL again this year. Needless to say, these two beleaguered franchises squaring off in a midseason matchup won’t qualify as must-see television in most markets.
That is, unless you’re excited about seeing Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow and Washington defensive end Chase Young, the top two picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, do battle. Throughout the first half, Burrow electrified and entertained — completing 22 of 34 passes for 203 yards with a touchdown — all with Young breathing down his neck in constant pursuit. The 2019 Heisman Trophy winner nearly scrambled for a touchdown on the Bengals’ second drive of the game, only to be stopped short by, you guessed it, his former Ohio State teammate.
Both players lived up to the hype and gave their respective fanbases plenty to cheer for, until Burrow was forced from the game due to a devastating knee injury when Washington defensive end Montez Sweat hit him high at the same time defensive lineman Jonathan Allen was blocked into him low. Without their franchise quarterback, the Bengals looked shellshocked and barely put up a fight the rest of the game — putting up just 25 yards of offense in the final two quarters — as Washington cruised to an easy 20-9 victory.
