Commanders look to hand Bengals third-straight loss in Monday night matchup

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is no stranger to bright lights and big stages. 

When he takes the field in Cincinnati to face the Bengals in a prime-time Monday night matchup, it will just be the latest box for the No. 2 pick to check off his rookie year list.

“It’s special, obviously. Be able to play one just coming off my first actual game, the first home opener, now first Monday night game,” he said. “It’s gonna be special, but at the end of the day it’s another game; you’re just playing later on in the week.”

As Commanders coach Dan Quinn would say, Daniels is “one cool customer.”  

“If he was somebody, like me, that was wanting to head butt the wall before you go out, I’d be nervous,” Quinn said. “But that’s not him, you know?”

In the lead-up to Monday’s game, Washington’s first of two prime-time appearances this season, the Commanders’ coaching staff has preached consistency. The practice schedule was the same, just pushed forward by a day.

For a Commanders roster with several high-profile rookies, Monday’s game is among its first opportunities to take in the pomp and circumstance of NFL prime time.

“It’s awesome. It’s like just chaos and crazy,” Quinn said. “For most of the guys, I wanted them to enjoy the buildup for the game, and then once it kicks off, you go.”

Outside of the raucous environment, Quinn’s squad will be contending with a dangerous Bengals squad that’s lost the first two games — a surprising season-opening defeat against the New England Patriots and a closely contested matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.

A slow start is nothing new for Bengals coach Zac Taylor. His team has started 0-2 in five of the last six seasons, including the last three years.

“We’re in a fine spot,” Burrow said in his weekly news conference. “We’ve been here before. We’re not panicking. We’re focused on getting a win and getting better every day.”

After struggling to find their rhythm in the season-opening loss, the Bengals started to string together drives against the Chiefs, posting 320 yards against the defending Super Bowl champions. 

Cincinnati was primed to walk away with its first win of the season until Kansas City kicker Harrison Butker notched a game-winning 51-yard field goal as time expired.

Despite a respectable 1-1 record to start the season, the Commanders are 7-point underdogs. Washington hasn’t set the league on fire in its first two games with Quinn and Daniels. In last week’s win against the New York Giants, the Commanders failed to score any touchdowns, instead relying on the leg of kicker Austin Seibert for seven field goals.

Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s unexplosive scheme has drawn criticism from fans and at least one opposing player.

“Nice college offense. [Kliff] Kingsbury’s the OC, so they love to move guys around here and there, but just keep it real simple for [Daniels],” Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt told ESPN. “I heard his pass percentage is very high, but he’s only throwing short routes, some intermediate stuff, quick throws.”

The trash-talking defensive back’s comments aren’t without merit.

Heading into Week 3, Daniels posted the fastest time-to-throw in the NFL, according to Next Gen Stats. Pro Football Focus noted that the Commanders rookie had the second-lowest average depth of target in the league, refusing to push the ball downfield with any consistency — wide receiver Terry McLaurin has recorded just eight catches for 39 yards this season.

“I’m not worried that that connection will get there. Terry deserves to get the ball,” Kingsbury said, noting that his offense’s execution needs to improve. “He’s one of the best players in the league, and I got to do a good job getting it to him.”

But Washington’s defense has its own tough task ahead against the high-powered trio of quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

The Commanders will be without edge rusher Clelin Ferrell, the team’s only defender to record a sack this season. Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr., the former first-round pick who has struggled in his first two seasons, is questionable with a thumb injury that sidelined him last week.

Even with the injuries, Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. said they’re not worried about their pass rush. With Ferrell out, rookie Jer’Zhan Newton will see more playing time on the defensive, along with former linebacker Jamin Davis.

The secondary is another beast. Cornerback Michael Davis floundered last week while filling in for Forbes, missing three tackles and allowing 60 passing yards, according to Pro Football Focus. Washington’s coaches haven’t committed to starting Davis on Monday.

“We’re still — on the outside — looking for the combination that’s gonna give us the best chance,” Whitt said. “It will be a week-to-week deal.”

The Commanders’ game, one of two NFL matchups on Monday night, will air at 8:15 p.m. on ABC and ESPN+.