Rookie QB makes history in Washington’s shock win over Bengals, Bills dominate Jaguars: NFL Week 3 Monday review
Jayden Daniels (5) celebrates throwing a touchdown pass to offensive tackle Trent Scott (73) against the Cincinnati Bengals. Emilee Chinn/AP CNN —
After a thrilling Sunday of NFL action, Week 3 continued with two more games for fans to sink their teeth into.
There were teams looking to get their first win, one looking to continue its perfect start and another looking for signs of promise from their rookie quarterback.
Here are the main storylines from Monday’s action.
Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills celebrates an interception during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Orchard Park, New York, on Monday, September 23. This was his first career interception and latest milestone since he suffered from a cardiac arrest on the field in early 2023. Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold throws the ball to tight end Johnny Mundt in Minneapolis on Sunday, September 22. The Vikings beat the Houston Texans 34-7. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III runs with the ball for a touchdown during the Steelers’ 20-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Pittsburgh on September 22. Brandon Sloter/Getty Images
Kadeem Telfort of the Green Bay Packers takes a selfie with a fan after the Packers beat the Tennessee Titans 30-14 on the road in Nashville on September 22. John Amis/AP
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones lands in the end zone for a touchdown in Minneapolis on September 22. Stacy Bengs/AP
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescotts sits on the field after a play during the team’s 28-25 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Arlington, Texas, on September 22. Cooper Neill/Getty Images
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard runs past New England Patriots cornerback Alex Austin for a touchdown in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday, September 19. The Jets won 24-3. Brad Penner/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney scores a touchdown during the team’s 22-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia on Monday, September 16. Matt Slocum/AP
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dax Hill during the Chiefs’ 26-25 victory in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday, September 15. The defending Super Bowl champs moved to 2-0 on the season. Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports/Reuters
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. catches a pass over Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum and linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. during a game in Minneapolis on September 15. The Vikings would go on to win the game 24-17. Abbie Parr/AP
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara runs the ball during the Saints’ 44-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, on September 15. Kamara had four touchdowns in the game. Tim Heitman/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Miami Dolphins players attend to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after he took a hit to the head in the second half of a game against the Buffalo Bills in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Thursday, September 12. Tagovailoa was later ruled out with a concussion. Jasen Vinlove/USA Today Sports/Reuters
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and teammates wait in a tunnel before a game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, California, on Monday, September 9. This is the first game back for Rodgers since tearing his Achilles tendon last year after his first game of the season. Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP
Los Angeles Chargers players and Las Vegas Raiders players clash after a play during the second half of their game in Inglewood, California, on Sunday, September 8. Caroline Brehman/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott celebrates after a touchdown during the Cowboys’ 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland on September 8. Hours before the game, Prescott agreed to a record four-year, $240 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid player in the NFL. Ken Blaze/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. breaks a tackle from Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker K.J. Britt in Tampa, Florida, on September 8. The Buccaneers beat the Commanders 37-20. Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Miami Dolphins wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle celebrate a touchdown during a 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Miami Gardens, Florida, on September 8. Hill was detained for a short time by police after a traffic incident earlier in the day. Miami-Dade Police Department Director Stephanie V. Daniels said Sunday that an investigation has begun into the incident and one of the officers involved is being placed on administrative duties. Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields signals during the second half of a game against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta on September 8. The Steelers defeated the Falcons 18-10. Danny Karnik/AP
Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo, right, and Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson tumble in the end zone in Chicago on September 8. Okonkwo made the catch for a touchdown, but the Titans ultimately fell 24-17 to the Bears. David Banks/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Rhamondre Stevenson of the New England Patriots runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals defenders in Cincinnati on September 8. The Patriots beat the Bengals 16-10. Jason Mowry/Getty Images
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, center, celebrates his interception return for a touchdown during the Vikings’ 28-6 victory over the New York Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 8. Vincent Carchietta/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars players pray together at the end of the game in Miami Gardens, Florida, on September 8. Rebecca Blackwell/AP
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir, top, dives for the end zone for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Justin Jones is unable to make the tackle in Orchard Park, New York, on September 8. The Bills won 34-28. Matt Slocum/AP
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love walks off the field after taking a hit in the final seconds of a game against the Philadelphia Eagles in São Paulo early Saturday, September 7. The Eagles won 34-29. Brooke Sutton/Getty Images
Brazilian and American flags are presented on the field at Neo Química Arena – also known as Corinthians Arena – in São Paulo ahead of the game between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, September 6. It was the first NFL game in South America. Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Grammy Award-winning singer Taylor Swift cheers on boyfriend Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs during the game against the Baltimore Ravens in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday, September 5. Reed Hoffmann/AP
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely catches a pass with his toe out of bounds as time expires at the end of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 5. The Chiefs won 27-20. Ed Zurga/AP
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambles during the game against the Baltimore Ravens in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 5. Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Fans enter Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, ahead of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens on September 5. Charlie Riedel/AP The best photos from the 2024 NFL season Prev Next Jayden Daniels excels in prime time
Sometimes a rookie has a ‘Welcome to the NFL’ moment.
And that was the case for Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels Monday night as he starred in Washington’s stunning 38-33 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Daniels, No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, missed just two of his 23 passes, throwing for 254 yards and two touchdowns and running for another in a near perfect performance in his primetime debut.
The 23-year-old’s combination of accuracy with his arm and elusiveness with his legs proved a thorn in the side of the Bengals defense all evening at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.
Daniels also made history with his outing: his 91.3% completion percentage was the highest ever in a game for a rookie, according to the NFL. He also became the first player since at least 1950 to throw for 250 yards and multiple touchdowns, rush for a score and complete 90+% of his passes according to the NFL.
On top of that, Daniels became the third rookie quarterback since 2000 – after Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert – to have a passing and rushing touchdown in the same primetime game.
“I just said I’m a competitor,” Daniels said when asked what he showed the NFL. “I want to compete at the highest level. Obviously, it’s a blessing to go out there each and every Sunday to do things that a lot of people in the world can’t do. To be blessed to be a part of one of the 32 teams and go out there and compete every Sunday, and Mondays, or whenever we play.”
Daniels had three total touchdowns in the win over the Bengals. Katie Stratman/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
Daniels’ second touchdown pass of the evening with 2:10 left in the game effectively sealed the victory, connecting with Terry McLaurin on a 27-yard pass to put Washington up 12 points.
The Bengals scored on a Zach Moss one-yard rush with 40 seconds left to cut the lead to five, but it wasn’t enough as the Commanders picked up their second win of the season.
Afterwards, first-year Washington head coach Dan Quinn was full of praise for his rookie signal-caller.
“He’s a really cool customer and he’s got real poise about him,” Quinn told reporters. “Going in, we knew the importance of the ball and the decision-making for that. We just couldn’t give them short fields and chances to go.
“So, his ability to know when to, when not to, when to make a play with his legs, we’ve seen a lot of this at practice, and now it’s carrying into the games where the decision-making, sliding, going, taking your shot, I thought it was a really strong performance tonight by him.”
While the win springboards Washington’s season, the defeat compounds the Bengals’ woeful start to their campaign.
Cincinnati is now winless through three weeks of the season and Monday’s loss was its second defeat at home to a surprising opponent after losing to the New England Patriots in Week 1.
While quarterback Joe Burrow and the rest of the offense looked like a potent threat, the Bengals defense failed to lay a glove on Washington’s offense as Daniels was able to continue scoring at will. Such was the success of both offenses, the contest was the first NFL game since 1940 to not feature a turnover or a punt, according to Bleacher Report
A Super Bowl run was the expectation ahead of the season but that seems a longshot after a 0-3 beginning.
Burrow threw three touchdowns in the defeat to the Commanders. Andy Lyons/Getty Images Bills dominate Jaguars as Damar Hamlin gets first career interception
Bills quarterback Josh Allen put on a spectacular show to drive Buffalo to a dominant 47-10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday.
Allen exploded in the first half at Highmark Stadium, completing 22 of his 28 throws for 247 yards and four touchdowns as the Bills raced into a 34-3 lead at the break.
The second half was a much slower affair with the result already wrapped up as Buffalo improved to 3-0 to start the season.
Apart from the offensive explosion in the first half, the opening 30 minutes saw a special moment as Damar Hamlin – playing in his first Monday night game since suffering a cardiac arrest last year – recorded his first career interception.
The Bills safety collapsed during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January last year after making a tackle and taking a shot to the head and chest area. Medical professionals performed CPR when he lost his pulse and he needed to be revived through resuscitation and defibrillation. He was on a ventilator for days and spent more than a week in a Cincinnati hospital.
It was later determined that Hamlin’s cardiac arrest was caused by commotio cordis, which can occur when severe trauma to the chest disrupts the heart’s electrical charge and causes dangerous fibrillations (or abnormal heartbeats).
On Monday night, Hamlin picked off Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence midway through the second quarter, running the ball back 19 yards to the Jacksonville 41-yard line before celebrating in front of the crowd with his teammates.
“It’s special, man,” Hamlin told ESPN of his teammates’ reaction. “They were a big part of me being able to make this type of comeback. They pushed me. They gave me love, they gave me grace, they gave me everything I needed on the journey, and they was even happier than I was to get my first interception.
“That just shows the community and the bond that we have here in Buffalo. It’s truly a special place, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
As for the Jaguars, Monday’s defeat means the team begins the season winless through three weeks with very few points of positivity.
Lawrence struggled to match Allen’s offensive explosion, throwing for just 178 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was benched late in the game for Mac Jones to protect him from injury.
Bills quarterback Allen (left) shakes hands with Jaguars quarterback Lawrence (right) after Buffalo’s victory. Steven Senne/AP
Afterwards, Jags head coach Doug Pederson was frank in his assessment of his team’s performances through three weeks.
“It’s real shocking. Very disappointed. You hate to say it, but the reality of it is this is who we are right now,” Pederson told reporters. “We’re not a very good football team and we’ve got to get it fixed. We’ve got to come up with some answers and we’ve got to do it in a hurry.”
Week 3’s Monday scores
Away vs. home (winners in bold)
Jacksonville Jaguars 10-47 Buffalo Bills
Washington Commanders 38-33 Cincinnati Bengals