Bengals’ defense was even worse than it looked in loss to Commanders

The Week 3 “Monday Night Football” clash between the Washington Commanders and Cincinnati Bengals was billed as a showdown between two of LSU’s finest quarterbacks and the school’s two most recent Heisman Trophy winners—and it did not disappoint.

Both Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels delivered in the high-scoring affair, but it was Daniels who stole the spotlight, leading the Commanders to a thrilling 38-33 upset victory. Burrow, who threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns, became just the second quarterback of the 2024 NFL season to reach that mark, joining Andy Dalton. However, Daniels’ performance in only his third NFL start was the real story.

Drafted No. 2 overall by Washington in 2024, Daniels showcased why he was so highly regarded. His combination of elite mobility and sharp downfield passing proved key in Washington’s win, but his accuracy and efficiency were the true highlights of the night. Daniels set a new rookie record for completion percentage in a game with at least 20 attempts, as he helped the Commanders improve to a surprising 2-1 start.

Jayden Daniels’ Stats vs. Bengals:

• Completions/Attempts (%): 21/23 (91.3%)
• Passing yards: 254
• Passing TDs: 2
• Passer rating: 141.7
• Rushing yards: 39
• Rushing TDs: 1

Daniels broke Dak Prescott’s rookie completion percentage record of 88.9%, set in 2016 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His precision was evident throughout the game, with just one notable early misfire when he missed an open Terry McLaurin for a potential long touchdown due to interior pressure. After that, Daniels was almost flawless, including a perfectly placed touchdown pass to McLaurin on third-and-7 late in the game to seal the win.

Daniels also contributed to the ground game, leading Washington with 39 rushing yards and a touchdown on a read-option play. His dual-threat capability and record-setting efficiency made his performance historic. According to NFL researcher Tony Holzman-Escareno, Daniels is the only player since at least 1950 to pass for 250 yards and two touchdowns, rush for a touchdown, and complete 90% of his passes in a single game.

After the game, Daniels reflected on his standout performance during the postgame press conference, admitting he couldn’t recall ever having a game with just two incomplete passes. Confident and composed, he acknowledged that he had shown exactly what he hoped to on one of the NFL’s biggest stages.

“I’m a competitor,” Daniels said. “I want to compete at the highest level. It’s a blessing to go out there each Sunday and do things that a lot of people in the world can’t do.”