Cincinnati won in the bloodstream of a preseason win, but the bigger storylines swirled around risk, readiness and rhetoric. Joe Burrow started the Bengals’ first three possessions in his second consecutive August tune-up, absorbing a horse-collar tackle and a sack that sparked debate about how much Washington’s heat should loom over a franchise QB. ESPN voices Marcus Spears and Stephen A. Smith blasted Zac Taylor for leaving Burrow in too long and for overall August planning, framing the discussion around protecting Burrow while chasing a clean, fast start in September. The chatter extended to Cincinnati’s defense, described in come-and-go fashion as a work-in-progress, underscoring questions about how offsetting the defense’s rough edges with an efficient offense will play out when games actually count. The result counts, but the postgame analysis centers on process, health, and balancing September readiness with August prudence.