5 unsung heroes from Commanders' shock triumph at the Bengals in Week 3
By Dean Jones
Nobody in the national media thought the Washington Commanders stood much chance of beating the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. Even the sportsbooks had them as the weekend's biggest underdogs. That was not an opinion shared by those in the building.
Dan Quinn felt a big performance was coming. The defense's lack of consistency meant this became a shootout as expected. Washington managed to get into an early lead and never relinquished it en route to a shocking victory with the national spotlight shining bright.
Jayden Daniels was a revelation under center. Kliff Kingsbury called a masterful offensive game and the Commanders didn't punt for the second-straight week. This was the statement game everyone associated with the franchise was looking for. And it came well ahead of schedule.
Exciting times are ahead for the Commanders whether playoff football arrives this season or not. With that being said, here are five players who emerged as unsung heroes in Week 3 at Paycor Stadium.
Unsung heroes from the Commanders' win at the Bengals
Brian Robinson Jr. - Commanders RB
The Washington Commanders didn't get the lofty numbers from Brian Robinson Jr. that the running back achieved during his Week 2 breakout against the New York Giants, but his role was integral. He averaged just 2.1 yards per carry. However, the former third-round pick out of Alabama kept the Cincinnati Bengals' defense honest and the clock ticking over during a critical fourth-quarter drive that eventually iced the contest.
This was even more essential when one considers Austin Ekeler was forced out of the game with a concussion. Robinson was depended upon heavily after that. And his performance was a pivotal component behind Washington's success despite not having the numbers to show for it.
Ekeler didn't travel with the team to Arizona immediately after the game and was seen with a bandage on his ear following the clash. He'll go into the league's concussion protocol and his status for Sunday's game is in question. It'll be a blow, but the Commanders can relax safe in the knowledge Robinson is more than capable of picking up the slack.