Commanders QB Jayden Daniels Calls Bengals Win a ‘Starting Point’

Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is looking to maintain his composure after leading the Washington Commanders to a thrilling victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Following the game, he described his record-setting performance as “a starting point.”

In the intense matchup, Daniels completed 21 of 23 passes for an impressive 254 yards, throwing two touchdowns and adding a rushing touchdown to secure a 38-33 win in Cincinnati. His completion percentage of 91.3% established a new rookie record for a primetime game.

“I feel like we’ve still got a lot to improve on as an offense,” Daniels said during the post-game press conference. “Never get too comfortable with what we are doing. It’s just a starting point.”

The game showcased an offensive explosion, with both teams amassing nearly 800 yards combined. It was notable as the first NFL game since 1940 that featured no punts or turnovers.

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn anticipated a hard-fought battle, emphasizing the competitive nature of the game.

The Bengals initiated the scoring when quarterback Joe Burrow connected with Ja’Marr Chase for a 41-yard touchdown on their opening drive. Daniels quickly rallied the Commanders, engineering a 10-play, 70-yard drive that concluded with a 1-yard touchdown run by Brian Robinson.

After a missed 48-yard field goal by Bengals kicker Evan McPherson, the Commanders surged ahead with a 24-yard touchdown run by Austin Ekeler, marking a 14-7 lead midway through the first half.

McPherson bounced back with a 28-yard field goal, narrowing the score before Daniels struck again, connecting with Terry McLaurin for a deep 55-yard pass, which set up a 4-yard rushing touchdown by Daniels.

McPherson capped the half with a 31-yard kick, bringing the score to 21-13 as the teams headed into the locker rooms.

The Commanders returned to the field with a sense of momentum. Ekeler initiated the second half with a thrilling 62-yard kick return, followed by Daniels throwing a 1-yard touchdown pass to offensive lineman Trent Scott for the first touchdown pass of his career.

Burrow responded later with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Andrei Iosivas, but the Commanders continued to dominate offensively. A 42-yard field goal by Austin Siebert extended Washington’s lead.

Burrow kept the Bengals in the fight with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Chase. However, Daniels countered with a critical 27-yard touchdown strike to McLaurin, which pushed the Commanders ahead by 12 points with just two minutes left on the clock.

Despite a late 1-yard touchdown run by Bengals running back Zack Moss, Cincinnati could not recover an onside kick, sealing their defeat.

McLaurin emerged as a key player for the Commanders with four receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown. Ekeler, despite leaving the game with a concussion, contributed 57 yards and a touchdown.

Burrow ended the game completing 29 of 38 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Moss recorded 97 yards and a touchdown, while Chase caught six passes for 118 yards and two scores in a losing effort.

Through his first two games, Daniels has completed 40 of 53 passes for 410 yards, with no interceptions or touchdowns. He has also added 132 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, helping the Commanders improve to a 1-1 record. After the Monday night performance, he has completed over 80% of his attempts this season.

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

The Commanders will next face the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, while the Bengals are set to take on the Carolina Panthers.

Source: UPI