Rookie Jayden Daniels leads Commanders past Bengals at MNF

CINCINNATI — As Washington backup safety and special teamer Jeremy Reaves left the noisy visitors' locker room with headphones in his ears, he pointed toward quarterback Jayden Daniels. He said just two words.

“He’s different,” Reaves said.

Defensive tackle Jon Allen was more direct.

“He is the answer,” Allen said.

No one in the locker room would disagree. Not after a night in which he completed 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-33 win over the Bengals on Monday Night Football. Not after he threw a game-winning 27-yard touchdown pass to receiver Terry McLaurin while being run over by a lightning-fast defender.

“I think he grew up tonight,” McLaurin said. “I'm so happy for him because now as a freshman, when you see those shots, you get more confidence. And I think his confidence is through the roof right now.”

Washington (2-1) has won two straight games heading into Sunday's game at Arizona, scoring on 14 consecutive drives that didn't end in a kneel-down. The Commanders have seen an early season surge thanks to Daniels' play. Through three games, he has completed 80.3% of his passes and averaged 6.2 air yards per attempt. He has thrown for 662 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

“He continues to grow in his job,” said Washington coach Dan Quinn.

Daniels led a game-winning field goal drive in Week 2 and threw a touchdown pass on his final full possession Monday night. Players have not exactly spoken highly of Daniels since they began practicing with him in the spring.

Her trust in him has only grown.

“The only word I can really say is hope,” guard Sam Cosmi said when asked what was different about Daniels than those he's played with the past four seasons. “I believe. We believe.”

Daniels remained calm as the game clock ran out and pointed to the sideline to call the play. The way he handled the situation without panicking was well received by his teammates.

“It's shocking how calm he is, but that's not true,” Washington guard Nick Allegretti said. “The situation is just what it is. What am I supposed to do? Panic and ruin it. That's not who he is. He's just what the situation is. Get 11 in a huddle. Let's call a play.”

“He's the calmest rookie I've ever seen, and he's playing the toughest position in football. When that guy gets stressed, everyone else gets tense. He may not do it on purpose, but his calmness calms the entire offense.”

Daniels was asked to convert three fourth down attempts: two with his arm and one with his legs. He made it every time. A pass on fourth-and-two to rookie receiver Luke McCaffrey went 30 yards and set up the Commanders' first touchdown. A run on fourth-and-1 early in the fourth quarter resulted in a field goal.

But the coup de grace came on a fourth-and-four pass from the Bengals' 39-yard line to tight end Zach Ertz with 4 minutes and 26 seconds left in the game and Washington only five yards ahead. The pass went 9 yards.

“It's just a blessing that the coaching staff has faith in me to go out there and do something at a critical moment,” Daniels said. “But that's not just a testament to me, it's a testament to the entire offense.”

Then he delivered perhaps his first signature moment. Three plays later, facing a blitz with a defender about to hit him, Daniels threw a perfect throw that flew 45 yards and landed in McLaurin's arms for a 27-yard touchdown.

McLaurin told offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury that he wanted the ball on this play. Daniels delivered.

“When we needed it most, Jayden took a hit brilliantly,” said McLaurin, who also caught a 55-yard pass earlier in the game that led to another touchdown. “Those are big throws for a freshman.”

But with all the big throws, Daniels had to figuratively wrestle with a teammate to get his first touchdown ball. That's because it went to backup tackle Trent Scott, who caught a 1-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.

“I would like to saw [the ball] in the middle,” Scott said. “I was nervous as hell. 'Don't drop the ball.'”

While his teammates aren't shocked – Allen said he sees it “every day in training” – Daniels was surprised.

“Yes, because obviously it's something new for me,” he said. “But I also know what aspect I continue to bring to the work, and what happens in the dark will always come to light.”