An eye-catching performance from rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels powered the Washington Commanders to a shocking 38-33 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. Daniels, making his prime-time debut, showed poise and precision, outplaying Heisman winner Joe Burrow for the win.
- Daniels completed 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns, setting a Washington rookie record for completion percentage (91.3%).
- He showed impressive composure under pressure, leading drives on all six of Washington's possessions (excluding kneeldowns).
- Daniels' calmness and precision were especially evident on the game-clinching fourth-down conversion and touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin (the most unlikely completion of the season according to Next Gen Stats).
- Teammates expressed excitement about Daniels' potential, with veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner calling him “special” and receiver Terry McLaurin saying, “He stepped up tonight.”
- The win pushes Washington's record to a surprising 2-1, while the Bengals remain winless at 0-3.
Daniels’ performance has instilled optimism among the Washington faithful, who haven’t seen such a promising quarterback in decades. While questions remain about the team’s overall defense, the rookie’s stellar debut offers a glimpse of a brighter future for the Commanders.