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Jayden Daniels delivers a near-flawless performance in his prime-time debut: “He’s something special”

Jayden Daniels delivers a near-flawless performance in his prime-time debut: “He’s something special”
Posted on | Posted on angela

CINCINNATI — Actions speak louder than words, right? If you fell asleep with your ears ringing after Monday Night Football, it's Jayden Daniels' fault.

The Washington Commanders rookie quarterback delivered a brilliant, sensational and spectacular away performance in his prime-time debut.

Daniels outdid fellow Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow of LSU with a nearly flawless performance, frustrating Cincinnati Bengals pass rushers and tacklers with puzzling maneuvers in the pocket and pressure-driven plays that moved the chains. The 23-year-old set a rookie record for the number of passes completed in a game (91.3) in his third game, led Washington to points on all six drives (not counting kneel-downs) and held the team's turnover rate to zero.

Then there were the passes. The jaw-dropping, jaw-dropping throws. Including a 55-yard pass in the second quarter and a pinpoint 27-yard lob that went at least seven yards deep into the end zone and scored Washington's final points. Like the national television audience, the player on the receiving end was speechless.

“Both throws were dimes,” exclaimed Terry McLaurin. “Denims!”

Daniels' teammates, including those like McLaurin who have lived through years of quarterback changes and organizational turmoil, were ecstatic after the 38-33 victory. Yes, because of the win, which gave Washington a surprising 2-1 record, but also because of what they saw from the young quarterback.

It's not just that Daniels completed 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns or scored a 4-yard touchdown. Or that he avoided putting the ball in danger in another game with no interceptions and led Washington with 39 rushing yards. He also created a future trivia question that would embarrass the “Jeopardy!” champions by throwing his first career touchdown pass to offensive lineman Trent Scott.

The style and cleverness on display, especially when Cincinnati got within a point after Ja'Marr Chase's second touchdown pass with 9:42 left, would be impressive for a veteran player. The 12-play, 70-yard run, capped by McLaurin's touchdown catch, included a fourth-and-4 from the Bengals' 39. Daniels calmly completed a 9-yard pass to tight end Zach Ertz.

Daniels and McLaurin hadn't developed much chemistry between the two over the past two weeks. Before the game at Paycor Stadium, much of the talk revolved around how Washington needs to feed its playmaker. Three plays after Ertz caught the ball — with the Bengals running a cover-zero scheme — the duo completed a pass that was the most improbable completion of the season, according to NFL's Next Gen Stats.

“I'm not sure I've ever seen anything like it,” said linebacker Bobby Wagner, who has been on the team for 13 years.

Few Washington fans have enjoyed success this century. The dry spell stretches back to shortly after Washington's 1991 Super Bowl victory, the third under legendary coach Joe Gibbs. Joe Theismann, the franchise's first quarterback, who won the Lombardi Trophy in 1982, posted on his X-account: “Washington is happy for our team and our QB.”

In recent grim history, there has hardly been a winning season since 2016, the year before the signing of two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jonathan Allen.

“He’s special,” Allen said.

Daniels was the sixth starting quarterback in Week 1 in McLaurin's six seasons. It's understandable that the team's best receiver refrained from referring to the rookie as Neo, the one. After this performance, one can only celebrate.

“Hey, this kid has attitude. I think he grew up tonight,” McLaurin said. “He's done a great job in camp and made those shots, but to come out here and do it when it matters and the game is on the line — that's what makes great players.”

One can imagine the Bengals players having a few kind words after falling behind 3-0. Every possession by both teams crossed the halfway line. But while Cincinnati had to make do with three field goal attempts – kicker Evan McPherson missed one – Washington's attack, which Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt described last week as a “college offense,” was unstoppable.

“I thought their quarterback played great,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “He was a tough challenge. Obviously, it wasn't enough for us today.”

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Was there anyone in the building who couldn't speak highly of Daniel's work? Yes, the cool and composed quarterback himself.

“It's great,” Daniels said of the win. “Not just for me, but for the whole team.”

When Commanders coach Dan Quinn decided to give the rookie the ball on fourth down instead of kicking a field goal or punting – something Washington hadn't done in two games – Daniels credited the “trust in me to go out there and make a play at the crucial moment.”

The play, which led to a 1-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter for Washington's biggest lead of 28-13, left the 6'5″, 315-pound Scott “nervous as the plague. Don't drop the ball on Monday Night Football.” And he didn't. Whether Scott or Daniels gets to keep the ball is theoretically up for discussion, according to the players – but not for Quinn. “Maybe we can think of something for Trent,” Quinn said.

Daniels and the offense barely made any mistakes. He praised his offensive line for its solid defense. Running backs Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr. both found the end zone. Early in the second half, Ekeler threw a 55-yard kick return that led to Scott's point. The fact that Ekeler left the game with a concussion was one of the few downsides to the problems on defense.

Quinn said the win was a team effort in all three phases: “And we definitely did that.” While that's true, questions about Daniels dominated postgame conversations.

“He's a really cool guy and has great poise,” Quinn said of Daniels. “I thought he had a really strong performance.”

Daniels never came close to self-praise in his post-game press conference, nor was he afraid to say that while success in this new situation brings with it a certain surprise, he knows the work that has brought him to such heights.

“What is done in the dark always comes to light,” he said.

When asked what he has shown the NFL, Daniels said, “I'm a competitor. I want to compete at the highest level. It's a blessing to be able to go out there every single (game) and do things that a lot of people in the world can't do.”

The last sentence is about playing in the NFL. Granted, it is also a testament to Daniel's ability and potential. He is confident, but not arrogant enough to proclaim his rising status. His actions said a lot and the sound was deafening.

(Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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