Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals was thought-about the established star among the many LSU Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks going through off on Monday night time. Jayden Daniels was the Washington Commanders rookie who had an thrilling future, however he wasn’t Burrow but.
It appears there are two star quarterbacks from LSU within the NFL now. On Monday night time, Daniels was higher. He is the one we’ll be speaking about all week. A brand new NFL phenomenon might need arrived in entrance of a nationwide tv viewers.
Daniels, the second total choose of this 12 months’s NFL Draft, placed on a present in Washington’s 38-33 win over the Bengals. Daniels was merely spectacular in his third NFL sport. He was extremely correct as a thrower and arduous to trace down as a runner. And when the Commanders confronted an infinite third down with just a little greater than two minutes to go, Daniels lobbed a stupendous 27-yard landing go to Terry McLaurin to place the Bengals away. Daniels completed 21 of 23 for 254 yards and two touchdowns, with 39 yards and a landing dashing. That is the very best completion proportion for a rookie quarterback in NFL historical past. Not unhealthy for a 3rd profession sport.
The Bengals have been alleged to be the group enthusiastic about this season. They’ve began sluggish earlier than, however to not this excessive. After a second stunning dwelling upset loss to start out the season, Cincinnati is in large bother at 0-3.
Washington is 2-1 and must be extremely enthusiastic about its future with Daniels. We may look again on Monday’s coming-out celebration as an announcement that Daniels had arrived — loads sooner than anticipated.
Commanders offense rolls in 1st half
Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt has been a boisterous quote machine this season. Final week he mentioned the Washington Commanders stored issues easy for his or her rookie quarterback and so they had a “good school offense.”
The midweek leisure is nice, however that is what’s unsuitable with the Bengals. They suppose they’re Tremendous Bowl contenders. They carry themselves that approach. There’s not a lot substance but to again it up.
You may have Taylor-Britt’s bravado if you’re good, however the Bengals are 0-3. Possibly Taylor-Britt thinks Washington has a school offense, however the Bengals could not cease all of it night time.
The Bengals began quick. Burrow hit Ja’Marr Chase on a pretty-looking deep go for a 41-yard landing. The Commanders’ secondary hasn’t been good this season and it appeared then like Burrow might need an enormous night time in a much-needed win.
However the Commanders had the offense that lit up the scoreboard within the first half.
Washington had landing drives every of the primary thrice it touched the ball. The drives coated 69, 62 and 75 yards. On the third one, Daniels threw a 55-yard deep go to McLaurin, who torched Taylor-Britt on the play. Good professional offense. That arrange a landing run by Daniels. Washington had a shocking 21-10 lead at that time. Daniels was 7 of 8 for 139 yards within the first half. The Commanders have been averaging 8.5 yards per play earlier than halftime.
The Bengals have been supposedly the extra determined group and the massive favorites, however it did not appear to be it for many of Monday night time.
Bengals battle on protection
The Bengals already had a shocking loss to the Patriots at dwelling in Week 1. It regarded like a loss to the Commanders at dwelling in Week 3 was unlikely coming into the sport. Then the second half began with a 62-yard kickoff return by Washington’s Austin Ekeler.
That arrange a Daniels landing go to 320-pound offensive lineman Trent Scott. That was Daniels’ first profession NFL landing go, and it may very well be a preferred trivia reply sometime. The Bengals have been down 28-13 and an offensive deal with was dancing of their finish zone.
The Bengals weren’t going away. Andrei Iosivas and Chase scored within the second half, however the Commanders nonetheless led 31-26 with lower than 10 minutes to play.
Daniels led a game-clinching drive after that. On a fourth-and-4, Zach Ertz caught a primary down go. The Bengals have been incapable of getting a cease towards a rookie quarterback in his first Monday night time begin, and his second street begin. Then when the Bengals had yet one more shot at a cease to get Burrow the ball again, Daniels had a chic landing go to McLaurin.
“Cowl zero. I knew I used to be gonna take a success, however I belief my gamers on the market,” Daniels instructed ESPN’s Lisa Salters after the sport. “I belief my man to go and make a play.”
Cincinnati did rating a landing with 40 seconds left, however Washington recovered the onside kick and Daniels had the correct ending to his storybook night time.
The Bengals have loads to repair, and at 0-3 they higher do it instantly. It is a robust spot to be, particularly with losses to 2 groups that have been thought-about among the many worst within the NFL coming into the season. However we all know now that whereas the Commanders’ points aren’t all mounted, they are not going to be a straightforward win for opponents. Daniels is already too good to take a win over Washington as a right.