5 major observations from Jayden Daniels' performance at the Bengals

After making an encouraging start to his professional career, rookie signal-caller Jayden Daniels faced his biggest test so far in Week 3. And with the national NFL audience watching, no less.

The Washington Commanders made a tricky-looking trip to the Cincinnati Bengals for a mouth-watering Monday Night Football clash. This was a chance for Dan Quinn's men to claim a notable scalp and keep up with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East. Easier said than done, so the onus was on Daniels to play fundamentally sound football versus Joe Burrow - another Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback out of LSU.

Couple this with the bright lights of primetime glaring, and it was a challenge Daniels was relishing. As it turned out, he was ready for the moment as the signal-caller spearheaded the Commanders to a bombshell victory on the road.

With this in mind, here are five major observations from Daniels' performance at Paycor Stadium in Week 3.

Major observations from Jayden Daniels' performance at the Bengals

Jayden Daniels' resolve

If there's one thing that's stood out more than anything else about Jayden Daniels during his early stages of being an NFL quarterback, he can navigate any situation with the same poise and composure. That's exactly what the Commanders envisaged when they took him at No. 2 overall. It was also on full display during the opening exchanges at the Cincinnati Bengals.

Things looked bleak for the Commanders when Joe Burrow marched downfield for a quick touchdown on the game's opening drive. Instead of wilting under the pressure, Daniels embraced it. He carved open the Cincinnati defense immediately after, which resulted in running back Brian Robinson Jr. going in for six.

This might not seem like much, but it was a prime example of the resolve within Daniels. He wants to be the best. He wants to mix it with the elite. And he's got the skills to take the Commanders where they want to go.

Jayden Daniels' sensational first half

Some players have a hard time producing the goods in road games with the primetime microscope looming large. That wasn't the case for Jayden Daniels during a sensational first half from the quarterback.

Daniels was clinical throughout. Kliff Kingsbury opened things up to provide the signal-caller with enough freedom to flourish. It didn't come with a passing touchdown, but his contribution played a leading role in Washington going into the interval with an eight-point lead.

Perhaps more encouraging was Daniels finally getting the football downfield with urgency with opportunities arose. His deep connection to Terry McLaurin was an undoubted highlight, which was desperately needed considering the Pro Bowler's lack of usage over the opening two contests.

Want further proof? Check out Daniels' stats from the opening two quarters at Paycor Stadium.

• 87.5 percent completion
• 139 passing yards
• 0 passing touchdowns
• 0 interceptions
• 1 sack against
• 19 rushing yards (1 rushing touchdown)
• 118.8 passer rating (ESPN)

This was better than even the brightest optimist anticipated. Daniels formally announced himself on the national NFL stage. And he did it all with a smile on his face.

Jayden Daniels' elusiveness

The Commanders got another decent performance from their revamped offensive line overall on Monday Night Football. This unit is coming along nicely and providing first-year signal-caller Jayden Daniels with the time needed to make a difference. It also helps that the quarterback's elusiveness is already up there with the NFL's best.

Daniels must be so frustrating to play against, which is a joy to watch for any Washington fan. Just when it feels like you have him contained or perhaps even in touching distance of a sack, he'll make a move and the chance is gone. It was one of his standout features in college and shows no signs of diminishing in the pros.

He's fearless sitting in the pocket and boasts the instincts needed to evade oncoming defenders almost at will. It's been a long time since the Commanders had anything like this under center. And it's helping this team grow quicker than most anticipated through the opening three weeks of the campaign.

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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