Joe Burrow finished the game with 324 passing yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions as the Cincinnati Bengals faced off against the Washington Commanders. However, he may not have been the standout LSU quarterback of the night.
Rookie Jayden Daniels delivered an impressive performance, securing a 38-33 victory for his team and highlighting why the Commanders selected him with the No. 2 overall pick. Daniels completed 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards, threw two touchdown passes, and added 39 rushing yards with one touchdown, showcasing his skill set.
Daniels’ defining moment came when he threw a precise 27-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin on a crucial third down with just over two minutes left in the game, leaving a lasting impression on Commanders fans.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati’s defense struggled significantly. Washington managed to score touchdowns on five of their six possessions without facing a punt, leaving the Bengals in a precarious position at 0-3, drawing criticism for their defensive performance.
This game had been anticipated as a crucial revival opportunity for the Bengals, who held hopes of a Super Bowl run this season. They played at home against a rookie quarterback and were coming off a narrow loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, which had displayed the team’s potential. Tee Higgins returned from injury, seemingly providing a boost to the offense.
Burrow quickly connected with Ja’Marr Chase for a deep touchdown on the opening drive, raising expectations for a dominant win. However, the Commanders’ offense responded fiercely, scoring touchdowns on their first four possessions against a struggling Cincinnati defense.
Daniels’ play included a deep connection with McLaurin, a trick-play touchdown to offensive lineman Trent Scott, and a rushing touchdown of his own. Coupled with scores from Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr., the Bengals’ offense faltered, managing only three field goals, which frustrated the home crowd as the deficit grew to 15 points.
Despite Burrow finding Andrei Iosivas and Chase for two more late touchdowns to narrow the score, Daniels consistently had an answer, epitomized by his touchdown pass to McLaurin following a key fourth-down conversion to Zach Ertz earlier in the drive.