Week 3 of the Washington Commanders' 2024 NFL season will forever be remembered as Jayden Daniels' breakout game.
The Cincinnati Bengals are simply left speechless as they are now 0-3 on the season after being defeated 38-33 at home by Daniels and company.
The Commanders are now 2-1 on the season, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft put on an absolute show on “Monday Night Football,” as he threw for 254 yards with his first two career touchdown passes on 21-of-23 completions.
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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) throws a pass in the second quarter of the Week 3 NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Washington Commanders at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. The Commanders led 21-13 at halftime. (IMAGE)
And just like he did earlier in the season, Daniels was also able to find the end zone with his legs. However, the highlight of the night came on the Commanders' final offensive drive, when the league got a taste of what Daniels was made of.
On fourth-and-4 from the Cincinnati 39, Daniels refused to get off the field and asked his offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury, to run a play on his helmet so he could set up his offense. At that point, the Commanders led just 31-26 after Joe Burrow found Ja'Marr Chase for the second time that night in the end zone.
Daniels, brimming with confidence, took the ball and handed off to his tight end, Zach Ertz, for a nine-yard play to move the chains and continue to take time off the scoreboard.
BENGALS, 0-2, CONFIDENT IN FACE OF COMMANDERS' COLLEGE OFFENSE
But instead of just letting time pass, Daniels threw a bomb down the right sideline to Terry McLaurin on third-and-seven for a 27-yard touchdown.
Daniels called the play, as the pass put McLaurin at 100 yards on four receptions on the night.
Burrow and the Bengals offense tried to use the two minutes left on the clock to pull off a miracle, and although Zack Moss was able to score on a run to make it 38-32 in that span, the Bengals were unable to recover the onside kick. The Commanders then kicked a field goal at Paycor Stadium.
Cincinnati came into this game knowing that no team had ever made the playoffs in the modern era after finishing 0-3. So, as cliché as it was, it was true: This was a must-win game for the Bengals.
And Burrow came out firing and found Chase on a 41-yard touchdown pass to quickly put the Commanders up seven.
But Washington's offense set the tone from the start as it answered with a touchdown of its own, running out 6:12 off the first-quarter clock to see Brian Robinson slide through a hole and into the end zone.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) warms up before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. (Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images)
Washington would score a touchdown on its first three drives, and all of them came on the ground as Austin Ekeler, who left the game early with a head injury, scored on a 24-yard run and Daniels held it on a read-option score.
At the end of the first half, the Commanders led 21-13 and quickly extended the lead on the first drive of the second half, and it would be Daniels' first career passing touchdown. However, the receiver was not who anyone expected.
Offensive tackle Trent Scott scored a “big man touchdown” when he slipped into a fake run play and caught Daniels' one-yard pass for the score.
Looking further down the scoreboard, Burrow completed 29 of 38 passes for 324 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, a performance that usually wins him games.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at Paycor Stadium. (Images by Katie Stratman-Imagn)
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But the Commanders proved they are not to be taken lightly this season, as their rookie quarterback appears to have a cool head on his shoulders to start his inaugural campaign.
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