By Hunt Palmer
Anticipation has a way of breeding disappointment.
It didn’t on Monday night.
LSU fans flocked to their television sets to witness something their eyes had never seen before, a matchup of Heisman winners squaring off in the NFL. The result was everything they could have hoped for.
Sure, some feel more allegiance to Joe Burrow because his Heisman came with a ring. Their connection with Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals runs four years deeper than Jayden’s three weeks in Washington.
But the vast majority looked on Monday Night like proud parents as their greatest ever quarterbacks did something not done since 1940 in the NFL.
In Washington’s, 38-33, upset win in Cincinnati, neither team punted nor turned the ball over. Much of that was due to the two former Tigers under center.
Burrow was brilliant. Daniels was nearly perfect.
The Commanders scored touchdowns on each of their first four drives and got points on every drive but the kneel downs to end both halves. While scoring touchdowns was an issue for Washington in Week 2 versus New York, the Commanders did get points on every drive in that game, as well, meaning the offense’s last punt came with 11 minutes to go in the fourth quarter of Week 1—a stretch of 14 consecutive scoring drives orchestrated by the rookie quarterback.
Daniels looked every bit as poised, elusive and accurate as he did at LSU.
In his first ever prime time spot as a pro, he completed 21-of-23 throws for 254 yards and two touchdowns. He also accounted for a rushing score, meaning he scored more touchdowns than he had incompletions.
His completion percentage of 91 percent set the record for the highest in NFL history for a rookie, eclipsing the mark set by Dak Prescott in 2016.
As was the case in college, Daniels picked his spots. He was unafraid to check the ball down when necessary and to let it rip when the opportunity presented itself.
He delivered a perfect 55-yard strike to a streaking Terry McLaurin to set up a first and goal with three minutes left in the first half. On the next snap, he darted in for a four-yard rushing score to put Washington up 21-10.
Burrow and the Bengals never went away. The former No. 1 overall pick led three straight touchdown drives after halftime, the second of which was capped by a pinpoint pass to Chase down the right sideline.
But Daniels kept coming back with answers.
On Washington’s last drive, clinging to a five-point lead, Daniels pleaded with his coaching staff to go for a fourth and four at the Cincinnati 39 yard line as opposed to punting back to Burrow. Daniels took the shotgun snap, rolled right and fired a dart to tight end Zach Ertz for nine yards and a first down. Impressive as that was, it paled in comparison to the clincher.
Two running plays set the Commanders up with third and seven at the 27 yard line. A field goal would have made the difference eight. Daniels wanted more. He stared down a Bengals blitz and lofted a beauty toward McLaurin in single coverage. The ball dropped perfectly into McLaurin’s outstretched arms in the back corner of the endzone.
Ballgame.
In the end Burrow had completed 29-of-38 for 324 yards and three scores, but it wasn’t enough.
The Tigers twosome combined to complete 82 percent of their throws and totaled 621 yards of total offense with six touchdowns.
For a night, the nation got a look at what LSU fans admired for two magical seasons and another pair of damn good ones.
Burrow’s Bengals have dug themselves yet another deep hole in a brutal AFC. Commanders fans in the DMV area are dreaming of what might be coming.
Those watching back in Baton Rouge just got to enjoy Jayden and Joe. Again.
