5 major observations from Jayden Daniels' performance at the Bengals

The rookie got his first taste of NFL primetime.
Jayden Daniels
Jayden Daniels / Dylan Buell/GettyImages
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Jayden Daniels' decision-making

Jayden Daniels does not play like a rookie quarterback. His football IQ is nothing short of exceptional. His decision-making is almost always on point in crucial moments. There were times when he missed some throws and made the wrong read, but they were fleeting.

Daniels knows how to protect the football. He's got an unbelievable knack for deciphering the risk versus reward rapidly and having conviction in his thought process. No matter the down or distance, the Cajon High School product always gives the Washington Commanders a fighting chance.

With all the marbles on the line and the Cincinnati Bengals rallying in the fourth quarter, Daniels put his supreme decision-making on full display. He led the Commanders on a clock-chewing drive and finished it off with a jaw-dropping throw that was matched by an outstanding catch from Terry McLaurin for the score.

This was as good as it gets from Daniels. And now, the entire NFL world knows what a special talent Washington has at its disposal.

Jayden Daniels is a superstar

Jayden Daniels is a superstar. This out-of-this-world performance on Monday Night Football confirmed what many Commanders fans already knew.

It was a near-perfect display from Daniels, outdueling Joe Burrow and giving the Commanders a landmark victory on the road to make the entire league look at this once-downtrodden franchise differently. This is a completely different team with the No. 2 pick leading the charge. He has everyone believing that anything is possible. The excitement levels reached a different stratosphere and if the same trend continues, Washington might be in the playoff hunt when it's all said and done.

There's a long way to go before that happens. But looking at the way Daniels has applied himself through three games, it's hard for Washington's fanbase not to dream big after being starved of success for so long.

Daniels has the world at his feet. General manager Adam Peters must be feeling pretty good about drafting him over Drake Maye right now. The scary part? He's only going to get better with more NFL experience.

The league is officially on notice. Jayden Daniels has arrived.

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