Monday night’s Commanders-Bengals game featured two quarterbacks who won the Heisman Trophy at LSU, Washington’s Jayden Daniels and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow. After Daniels came out on top, all Burrow could do was admire his work.
Burrow congratulated Daniels on the field and then told reporters after the game that he’s impressed with how well the rookie quarterback is playing.
“They played great on offense today. Jayden played unbelievable,” Burrow said. “He played great. I told him that after the game. Congrats to him. Big-time performance.”
Daniels completed 21 of his 23 passes for a rookie-record completion percentage of 91.3 percent. He also had 254 passing yards, two touchdowns, no interception, and 39 yards and a touchdown rushing. The expectations on Daniels were high as the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft, but through three weeks of his rookie season, Daniels is exceeding those high expectations.
Jayden Daniels had his coming out party on Monday Night Football, showing why the Commanders used the No. 2 overall pick on him.
Daniels outplayed the quarterback he was compared to last season at LSU, with Daniels following Joe Burrow as a Heisman Trophy winner in Baton Rouge.
Daniels threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Commanders to a convincing 38-33 win over the Bengals.
The Commanders are 2-1, while the Bengals dropped to 0-3. The 2018 Texans are the only 0-3 team to make the postseason since 2000.
The Commanders scored on all six possessions, not counting on a one-play kneel down to end the half and a one-play kneel down to end the game. They put it away with a 12-play, 70-yard drive that ate up 7:32 in the fourth quarter, overcoming two penalties, a sack and a fourth down.
Terry McLaurin caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Daniels with 2:10 left, giving the Commanders a 38-26 lead. McLaurin finished with four catches for 100 yards.
The Bengals scored a touchdown on a Zack Moss run with 40 seconds left, but the Commanders recovered the onside kick.
Daniels had an almost perfect night, completing 21 of 23 passes and running for 40 yards on 11 carries. His first career touchdown went to offensive lineman Trent Scott for a 1-yard score.
The Bengals outgained the Commanders 436 to 356, with neither team punting, but Cincinnati saw drives end at the Washington 30, 9 and 13. Evan McPherson missed a 48-yard field goal and made kicks of 28 and 31.
Burrow went 29-of-38 for 324 yards and three touchdowns, with Ja’Marr Chase catching six for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Chase Brown rushed for 62 yards on seven carries, and Moss had 12 for 58 and a touchdown.
It was the first game since 1940 with no turnovers and no punts, according to the ESPN broadcast.
Commanders running back Austin Ekeler was injured in the second half Monday night.
Washington has ruled him out with a concussion.
He finished his night with two catches for 22 yards and three carries for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Ekeler’s departure leaves the Commanders with Brian Robinson and Jeremy McNichols as their running backs tonight.
The Commanders lead 31-20 after Austin Seibert’s 42-yard field goal with 11:30 left. Seibert, who signed to the active roster two weeks ago, is 8-for-8 on field goals this season.
Jayden Daniels needed three weeks to get his first touchdown throw.
It didn’t go to Terry McLaurin or Noah Brown or Austin Ekeler or Brian Robinson or anybody you would guess. It instead was caught by Trent Scott, an extra offensive tackle on a trick play.
Daniels rolled left and tossed the 1-yard touchdown to Scott, prompting the sideline to go nuts.
The Commanders lead 28-13.
Washington has scored touchdowns on all four possessions, not counting a one-play kneel down to end the half, and has 233 yards.
Daniels is 10-of-11 for 152 yards and a touchdown. He also has run for a 4-yard touchdown and has 24 yards on seven carries.
Ekeler is headed to the training room to be evaluated for a concussion.
Jayden Daniels is a primetime player.
The rookie quarterback led the Commanders on three touchdown drives on their three first three possessions, with Washington taking a 21-13 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Daniels is 7-of-8 for 139 yards and has a 4-yard touchdown run. One of his passes went for 55 yards to Terry McLaurin and another of 30 yards to Luke McCaffrey.
Austin Ekeler had a 24-yard touchdown run and Brian Robinson a 1-yard touchdown run.
The difference has been the Bengals’ inability to score touchdowns. Despite 236 yards, Cincinnati has only one touchdown. Ja’Marr Chase had a 41-yard touchdown catch on the Bengals’ first drive.
The Bengals’ other three drives ended at the Washington 30, 9 and 13, with Evan McPherson missing a 48-yard field goal try and making attempts of 28 and 31.
Joe Burrow is 14-of-19 for 157 yards and a touchdown, with Chase catching four for 80 yards and the score. Zack Moss has eight carries for 47 yards and Chase Brown five for 34.
The Bengals lost right tackle Trent Brown to a right knee injury. He left on a cart, and the team announced he will not return.
