Rookie Jayden Daniels leads Commanders past Bengals on MNF - ESPN

CINCINNATI — As Washington backup safety and special teamer Jeremy Reaves exited the raucous visiting locker room, headphones covering his ears, he pointed in the direction of quarterback Jayden Daniels. He only said two words.

«He's different,» Reaves said.

Defensive tackle Jon Allen was more direct.

«He is the answer,» Allen said.

Nobody in that locker room would disagree. Not after a night in which he completed 21-of-23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-33 victory over the Bengals. Not after he delivered a game-clinching 27-yard touchdown pass to receiver Terry McLaurin — while being crunched by a blitzing defender.

«I think he grew up tonight,» McLaurin said. «I'm so excited for him because now as a rookie, once you see those throws, you get more confidence. And I think his confidence is just going through the roof right now.»

Washington (2-1) has won two straight — and scored on 14 consecutive drives that didn't end in a kneel down — heading into Sunday's game at Arizona. The Commanders have received an early-season jolt because of Daniels' play. In three games he's completed 80.3 percent of his passes, averaging 6.2 air yards per attempt. He's thrown for 662 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

«He's continuing to grow on the job,» Washington coach Dan Quinn said.

And, in the last two games, he's led a game-winning field goal drive and threw a touchdown pass on his final full possession Monday night. It's why players have not been shy in their praise of Daniels since they started practicing with him in the spring.

Their confidence in him has only increased.

«The only word I can really say is hope,» guard Sam Cosmi said when asked what's different about Daniels compared to those he played