Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders delivered an impressive performance, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 38-33 in a surprising upset on “Monday Night Football.”
Daniels, selected as the second overall pick in the 2024 draft, orchestrated a commanding game, leading the Commanders to touchdowns on their first four drives, establishing a 28-13 lead in the third quarter. Demonstrating his dual-threat capabilities, he completed 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards, throwing two touchdown passes and adding another touchdown on the ground with 39 rushing yards on 12 attempts.
The Bengals struggled offensively for much of the night but made a push in the second half. A fourth-down touchdown pass from Joe Burrow to wide receiver Andrei Iosivas trimmed the deficit to a single score late in the third quarter. However, the Commanders responded with a field goal before Burrow connected with Ja’Marr Chase for his second touchdown of the evening in the fourth quarter, narrowing the score to 31-26. Ultimately, Daniels capped off a 12-play, 70-yard drive with a decisive 27-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin, securing the victory.
With this win, the Commanders improve to 2-1, while the Bengals fall to 0-3.
Key highlights from the matchup include:
Daniels emerged as a potential franchise quarterback for Washington. His performance showcased his abilities, including a remarkable 55-yard completion to McLaurin that set up one of the Commanders’ touchdowns. His mobility further troubled the Bengals, exemplified by his 4-yard touchdown run.
Running back Austin Ekeler had a notable game as well, contributing 119 all-purpose yards before exiting due to a concussion. He showcased his speed with a 24-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
One of the Bengals’ challenges was defending against McLaurin and Chase. The Commanders successfully exploited mismatches, with Chase scoring on touchdowns of 41 and 31 yards against inadequate coverage.
A pivotal moment occurred when Washington successfully converted a fourth-and-4 with just over four minutes remaining, allowing them to maintain possession and eventually secure the game with Daniels’ touchdown pass.
For the Bengals, an ongoing issue has been converting drives into touchdowns. Despite multiple opportunities in Washington’s territory, they only managed field goals, with kicker Evan McPherson converting two of three attempts.
Next up for the Commanders is a matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, while the Bengals will look to rebound against the Carolina Panthers.