5 winners (and 2 losers) from Commanders' win at the Bengals in Week 3

The Washington Commanders were looking to make a statement with the national spotlight glaring in Week 3. Dan Quinn's men came into their game at the Cincinnati Bengals as a heavy underdog. That didn't stop them from attaining a memorable victory on Monday Night Football.

This was a statement win from the Commanders. Not many gave them a chance of causing an upset despite the Bengals sitting at 0-2 heading into the clash. It was a highly entertaining affair with little defense played on both sides. Unlike previous years, Washington has a genuine difference-maker under center capable of going toe-to-toe with the NFL's best.

If people were overlooking the Commanders before this, they are now on notice. There is still a long road ahead and some difficult upcoming challenges on the schedule. But one could make a strong case for Washington being way ahead of schedule following substantial alterations across the board this offseason.

Fans believe something special might be brewing after decades of languishing among the bottom-feeders. With this in mind, here are five winners and two losers from Washington's bombshell triumph at Paycor Stadium.

Winners and losers from the Commanders' win at the Bengals

Winner No. 1

Jeremy Chinn - Commanders S

The Washington Commanders haven't gotten much from Jeremy Chinn over the opening two games. His performance in Week 3 at the Cincinnati Bengals was more like what the coaching staff had in mind.

Chinn was always around the action. He got away with a crucial pass interference call on a two-point conversion, but the former second-round selection made two outstanding plays down the stretch that made a significant difference to the overall outcome. It's not flawless just yet. However, this is a sign the free-agent signing is heading in the right direction.

The Southern Illinois product is becoming more comfortable within Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr.'s defensive scheme, that much is obvious. Considering how others are finding life difficult in the secondary, the Commanders need Chinn to build on this positive momentum through a tough stretch of upcoming games.

Loser No. 1

Commanders cornerbacks

It wasn't all sweetness and light for the Washington Commanders in Week 3. Their defensive frailties were on full display right out of the gate. This meant a quick change of pace, with those in power deciding to turn this contest into a shootout to compensate for their defensive deficiencies.

Washington's cornerbacks didn't cover themselves in glory, especially on the outside. Mike Sainristil and Benjamin St-Juste both got burned for big touchdowns courtesy of All-Pro wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. Joe Burrow carved them up from the first whistle, gaining 324 passing yards and three scores from 29 completions. Fortunately for the Commanders, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels matched him every step of the way.

Winning papers over the cracks, but the pass defense has the scope to hold Washington back from becoming one of the league's surprise packages. Options on the free-agent market are slim. General manager Adam Peters could examine potential trade options, but that seems unlikely considering his desire to stockpile picks as part of his long-term plan.

The Commanders do have Emmanuel Forbes Jr. to come back. But looking at his Week 1 performance before injuring his thumb, it would be a monumental turnaround if he influenced proceedings effectively.

Winner No. 2

Kliff Kingsbury - Commanders OC

Cam Taylor-Britt caused a stir before the contest, claiming Kliff Kingsbury's offense was predictable and something more akin to the college level rather than the pros. Although the offensive coordinator had every right to keep things simple for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels during his important early transition, these comments did not go unnoticed by the Commanders.

Kingsbury answered Taylor-Britt's criticism in the best possible way. The former Arizona Cardinals head coach called a masterful game from start to finish. Washington's offense was balanced, taking advantage of opportunities underneath, remaining stubborn with the run game, and maximizing downfield shots when chances arose. They moved the chains at will and didn't punt for the second consecutive week. More importantly, the Commanders picked up a statement win.

Any doubts should officially be silenced, even if Taylor-Britt doubled down on his original statement following the clash. That will be of no concern to Kingsbury, who's enhancing his reputation as an exceptional quarterback developer and bolstering his chances of getting a second head coaching gig along the way.

Revenge will be on Kingsbury's mind next time out when the Commanders travel to the team that fired him after the 2022 season. But one could forgive the play-caller for feeling a little smug after Taylor-Britt's critique.

Winner No. 3

Commanders OL

It would have been easy to single someone out on the offensive line. But as a collective unit, they turned in a fantastic performance at the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3.

Jayden Daniels doesn't do what he did in the passing game without outstanding protection. That's what the Washington Commanders provided their prized possession aside from the odd blip. They also managed to keep the pile shifting on running downs when it was crucial to churn up the clock late on.

Nick Allegretti, Sam Cosmi, and Tyler Biadasz continued their ascension into a sensational interior trio. This anchor is setting the tone for others to follow. There was also a lot to like about the offensive tackle improvements from Andrew Wylie, Cornelius Lucas, and rookie third-rounder Brandon Coleman.

It's not perfect just yet, but they largely nullified star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. They also displayed notable progress from a discipline standpoint, which is a sign they're taking on coaching well under Dan Quinn's leadership.

If things continue similarly, Washington's protection is going to be the least of the team's problems.

Winner No. 4

Terry McLaurin - Commanders WR

After an almost anonymous contribution over the first two games, the calls to get wide receiver Terry McLaurin more involved were deafening. The Commanders duly obliged at the Cincinnati Bengals en route to the best performance of the campaign by a considerable margin.

McLaurin and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels developed a strong chemistry over the summer. Things haven't quite clicked before Week 3, but that was largely down to the signal-caller's inexperience and Kliff Kingsbury taking some pressure off during an important early transition.

The former third-round selection returned to the state where he starred in college with a bang. McLaurin set the tone with an outstanding deep ball grab that went for 55 yards in the first half. His biggest catch - a sensational touchdown grab to ice the game late - was a sign of a blossoming relationship bearing fruit in a competitive setting.

Nobody deserves a quarterback such as Daniels like McLaurin. He's endured a revolving door at football's most crucial position and still put up outstanding numbers. Hopefully, this is the start of great things ahead for the duo in 2024 and beyond.

Loser No. 2

Daron Payne - Commanders DT

As previously stated, there wasn't much defense played on Monday Night Football. This wasn't a great shock considering the Washington Commanders' problems on this side, which stems from having no pass-rush and a secondary incapable of covering wide receivers effectively.

The Commanders need more from their highly-priced defensive tackle tandem. Daron Payne is the younger of the two with more years on his deal than Jonathan Allen. He was not at his best at the Cincinnati Bengals.

Payne had a hard time generating pressure. He seems to be the focus of opposing protection schemes, but the elite-level linemen around the league find a way to produce even with double and triple-teams coming their way. The former first-round pick out of Alabama also missed some crucial tackles at the initial contact point against the run to further raise concern.

Nobody is pressing the panic button just yet with Payne. Finding capable edge rushers would help, but it doesn't look like the Commanders have many of them either. It'll be interesting to see if things improve on a short week at the Arizona Cardinals.

Winner No. 5

Jayden Daniels - Commanders QB

No moment is too big for Jayden Daniels. The quarterback's demeanor never changes no matter the situation. He plays the game with a smile on his face and inspires everyone around him. The Commanders have known this for some time. Now, the entire NFL knows it too.

Daniels was nothing short of phenomenal with the national spotlight glaring in Week 3. The No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft quickly established himself through poise, accuracy, and elusiveness. When the time came to make a clutch play to keep the chains moving or get the football into the end zone, the Heisman Trophy winner delivered.

His two deep catches to Terry McLaurin were astonishing. Perhaps more impressive was Daniels' complete control and calmness in a pressure-cooker environment. It's early days, but it seems like the Commanders have a guy.

Daniels completed 91.3 percent of his passes for 254 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He was sacked twice and gained 39 rushing yards from 12 carries. This resulted in a whopping 93.6 QBR and a passer rating of 141.7.

This was Daniels' coming out party. And the league is officially on notice.

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