Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals stood out as the established star among the LSU Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks in Monday night’s matchup. While Jayden Daniels, the rookie for the Washington Commanders, showcased immense potential, he has yet to reach the level of Burrow.
There are now two-star quarterbacks from LSU in the NFL, and on Monday night, Daniels clearly outshined the competition. He’s the player that will dominate the conversation this week. A new NFL phenomenon has undoubtedly emerged on the national stage.
Daniels, the second overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, delivered an outstanding performance in Washington’s thrilling 38-33 victory over the Bengals. In his third NFL game, Daniels showcased his remarkable skills, demonstrating pinpoint accuracy as a passer and elusiveness as a runner. When the Commanders faced a critical third down with just over two minutes remaining, Daniels expertly lofted a stunning 27-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin, sealing the win against the Bengals. He completed 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns, adding 39 yards and a touchdown on the ground. This impressive feat marks the highest completion percentage for a rookie quarterback in NFL history—an extraordinary accomplishment for his third game.
The Bengals, who were expected to be a powerhouse this season, have delivered a performance that has left many surprised. While they’ve had slow starts in the past, this one is unprecedented. After suffering a surprising home loss for the second week, Cincinnati is in serious trouble at 0-3.
Washington stands at 2-1 and is undoubtedly thrilled about its future with Daniels. Monday’s impressive performance could be seen as a defining moment, signalling that the Commanders have a bright future ahead.
Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt has been a vocal supporter this season. Last week, he said the Washington Commanders played it simple for their rookie quarterback and showed a “great college-caliber offense.”
The midweek entertainment is impressive, but that’s where the Bengals go wrong. They act like Super Bowl contenders but lack the substance to support that confidence.
Taylor-Britt can flaunt his bravado all he wants, but the Bengals are sitting at 0-3. While he may believe Washington’s offence resembles a college-level attack, the Bengals struggled to contain it throughout the game.
The Bengals came out strong from the get-go. Burrow connected with Ja’Marr Chase on an impressive deep pass that resulted in a 41-yard touchdown. Given the struggles of the Commanders’ secondary this season, it was clear that Burrow was poised for a standout performance in this crucial win.
The Commanders showcased an explosive offence that not only dominated the scoreboard in the first half but also left a lasting impression on the audience.
Washington dominated early, scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions with impressive drives of 69, 62, and 75 yards. On the third drive, Daniels showcased his arm with a 55-yard deep pass to McLaurin, who easily beat Taylor-Britt. This set the stage for a touchdown run by Daniels, giving Washington a surprising 21-10 lead. In the first half, Daniels completed 7 of 8 passes for 139 yards, while the Commanders averaged 8.5 yards per play before halftime. Despite being the supposed favourites and the more desperate team, the Bengals struggled to keep up for most of the night.
The Bengals experienced a surprising defeat against the Patriots at home in Week 1. Expectations were high for their matchup against the Commanders in Week 3, but the game took a turn when Washington’s Austin Ekeler ignited the second half with a 62-yard kickoff return.
This led to a remarkable touchdown pass from Daniels to the 320-pound offensive lineman Trent Scott. It marked Daniels’ first career NFL touchdown pass, which could become a trivia favourite. With the Bengals trailing 28-13, an offensive tackle was celebrating in the end zone.
The Bengals were determined to fight back. Andrei Iosivas and Chase found the end zone in the second half, yet the Commanders maintained a 31-26 lead with under 10 minutes remaining.
Daniels executed a game-clinching drive with impressive poise. On a crucial fourth-and-4, Zach Ertz secured a first-down reception, showcasing the Bengals’ inability to halt a rookie quarterback in his debut Monday night matchup and only his second game on the road. When the Bengals had one final opportunity to stop Daniels and give Burrow another chance, he delivered a flawless touchdown pass to McLaurin, sealing the victory.
“Zero defense. I knew I would get hit, but I trusted my players,” Daniels told ESPN’s Lisa Salters after the game. “I trusted my players to make the play.”
Cincinnati found the end zone with just 40 seconds remaining, but Washington seized the onside kick, allowing Daniels to cap off his remarkable night with the perfect conclusion.
The Bengals have significant improvements to make, and with a 0-3 record, they need to get to work immediately. It’s challenging, particularly after losses to two teams widely viewed as among the weakest in the NFL entering the season. However, the Commanders are not the pushovers they once seemed. While they still have challenges, Daniels has proven to be a formidable opponent, making any victory over Washington far from guaranteed.
