By Ben Standig, Paul Dehner Jr. and Mark Puleo
In a battle of current LSU Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks, the rookie upended the Professional Bowl veteran and, within the course of, could have dashed the Cincinnati Bengals’ playoff hopes earlier than the calendar hits October. The Bengals fell to 0-3 with their 38-33 loss to Washington on Monday.
For the Commanders, it was Jayden Daniels’ evening to show he’s the longer term because the No. 2 decide orchestrated lengthy drive after lengthy drive, main Washington to 5 touchdowns. The fourth of these finish zone journeys got here on a 1-yard lob to 320-pound offensive sort out Trent Scott for Daniels’ first profession passing landing.
JAYDEN DANIELS’ FIRST CAREER TD PASS IS AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN TD!
📺: #WASvsCIN on ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/xOuWz3wiPa— NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2024
The high-flying shootout saved Daniels and Joe Burrow busy however made for an exhausting evening for the defenses and a boring evening for the punters. Monday’s sport marked the primary contest since 1940 with no punt or takeaway.
For the Bengals, the loss punched a gap within the staff’s preseason title hopes. Cincinnati entered 2024 with the sixth-best Tremendous Bowl odds, per BetMGM, however faces a traditionally steep climb to make the playoffs. Since 1990, solely 4 groups have made the playoffs after an 0-3 begin.
The Daniels period is right here
Little has fazed Daniels on the professional degree. Monday evening’s nationwide tv viewers witnessed the rookie quarterback’s poise and compelling expertise. In his first prime-time sport, Daniels annoyed Cincinnati’s protection all evening by evading one go rusher and tackler after one other.
He steadily delivered deep completions and chain-moving brief tosses. Then Daniels confirmed his aptitude for dramatics by saving his finest for final, a pinpoint 27-yard lob to Terry McLaurin for the quarterback’s second landing go of the sport and season. The longer term is unknown and but the longer term is right here proper now for the Commanders within the type of an exciting quarterback. — Ben Standig, Commanders beat author
GO DEEPER
Jayden Daniels, out of central casting, appears to be like like a number one man for Washington
The Burrow period hits all-time low
Welcome to the nightmare state of affairs for the 2024 Bengals. Sluggish begins have adopted them yearly, but they’ve rapidly discovered methods to dig out of it earlier than the season acquired too far-off from them. It’s honest to marvel in the event that they’ve already blown hope for the 12 months after Daniels and Washington tore their protection aside.
The Steelers are already 3-0 and the Bengals gave away two dwelling video games towards groups that drafted within the high 5, employed a brand new coach and picked a quarterback. When you’ve gotten Burrow and continuity in spades throughout the teaching employees, the sort of catastrophe to begin the 12 months can not occur. Between all of the off-the-field mess and what’s occurred on it, this ranks as one of many worst three-week spans of the Burrow period. — Paul Dehner Jr., Bengals beat author
Kliff Kingsbury has Commanders cooking
The Commanders want extra offensive playmakers. That’s true, a minimum of by fantasy soccer requirements. What’s additionally correct by means of three weeks is coordinator Kliff Kingsbury continues maximizing the choices accessible.
Washington scored on all six full possessions towards Cincinnati. That prolonged its streak to 14 consecutive scoring drives courting to Week 1, not together with kneel-downs. Exceptional doesn’t start to explain that effectivity. Working again Austin Ekeler powered the early assault and McLaurin carried the scoring burden after halftime. All occurred with Daniels operating the present and Kingsbury calling clever performs.
When your talent gamers aren’t headliners, you search for any benefit. Daniels and Kingsbury had been masterful in that regard. — Standig
Jayden Daniels had a historic MNF debut: 293 complete yards, 91.3 comp%, 3 complete TDs 🔥@JayD__5 | @Commanders pic.twitter.com/TMUHGzUjsw
— NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2024
Washington loses Ekeler in win
The Commanders dominated out Ekeler after he suffered a concussion within the second half, and coach Dan Quinn didn’t have an replace on the operating again’s standing postgame.
Washington performs the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4. Moderately than fly dwelling, the Commanders will follow all week in Phoenix. Ekeler won’t journey with the staff.
He had 55 yards from scrimmage in Monday’s win, with 24 approaching a second-quarter landing run. Ekeler additionally had a kickoff return for 62 yards. — Standig
Bengals’ protection of outdated bites Cincinnati
The 2023 Bengals protection was terrible and embarrassing in virtually each approach. Cincinnati discovered stability in two veteran safeties and thought that may be sufficient to depart all the issues and explosive performs behind. By two weeks, it appeared the Bengals had.
On Monday, they didn’t simply revert to the 2023 model, they had been one way or the other worse. They allowed 5 touchdowns and a discipline aim. It wasn’t simply giving up factors, however they hardly ever compelled third downs. The Commanders had been in third-and-short in the event that they ever really made it to that down. Then when Cincinnati did power a fourth down, it by no means made the massive play.
As a substitute, the Bengals allowed three conversions that saved drives alive. The Commanders’ offense is legit, however all of the issues of the lackluster Bengals defensive position and mounting accidents had been apparent in full power and there’s no rapid repair in sight. — Dehner
GO DEEPER
How dangerous was the Bengals’ protection Monday evening? In some way worse than it seemed
Bengals’ offense was strong, however wanted to be excellent
The Bengals’ offense did sufficient to carry its personal, however on an evening with no room for error, there was error. Most of it got here within the purple zone. Cincinnati didn’t punt or commit a turnover all evening, however two failed red-zone drives and a missed discipline aim had been greater than sufficient to open the door for Daniels and the Commanders. Burrow and his receivers didn’t seem on the identical web page on the 2 failed drives. A blemish on an in any other case strong evening for the offense, which had 30 first downs as Burrow threw for 324 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
When the protection is that dangerous, none of it issues. — Dehner
Required studying
(Picture: Cooper Neill / Getty Pictures)