The Washington Commanders have improved to 2-1 after their 38-33 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, and national pundits have taken notice of the team's improvements in Dan Quinn's first season as the head coach. Here's how the Commanders stack up with the rest of the league.
ESPN
Rank: 18
Week 3 ranking: 27
John Keim: Entering the Monday night game, Washington ranked 27th in red zone scoring -- largely due to having to kick six field goals in Week 2 versus the Giants. Four penalties helped stall drives in that win, but overall execution must improve. The passing game hasn't worked in the red zone (quarterback Jayden Daniels completed 1 of 5 red zone passes in the first two games), and the run game was tied for 16th, averaging 2.7 yards per carry. After Monday night's win over the Bengals, the Commanders scored a touchdown on 100% of their red zone trips, showing much improvement.
NFL.com
Rank: 16
Week 3 ranking: 28
Eric Edholm: Jayden Daniels was already among the league leaders in completion percentage at 75.5 percent, and that was before he completed 21 of 23 passes on Monday night in a stunningly good performance that fueled the Commanders' road upset of the Bengals. Daniels was so cool and poised all night, leading six scoring drives (five TDs) in six tries, not counting kneeldowns. He sprayed the ball all over, including a few gorgeous deep shots, and was a terror with his legs, rushing for a touchdown and five first downs, frustrating the Bengals all night.
Yahoo Sports
Rank: 17
Week 3 ranking: 27
Frank Schwab: Jayden Daniels completed 21 of 23 passes for a 91% completion percentage that is a new NFL record for a rookie QB. Daniels was nearly perfect in a massive road win over the Bengals. This suddenly feels a lot like Robert Griffin III as a rookie, doesn't it?
USA Today
Rank: 18
Week 3 ranking: 27
Nate Davis: Their "nice college offense," per Cincy CB Cam Taylor-Britt, scored Washington's most points (38) in four years as QB Jayden Daniels set a rookie record for completion percentage in a game (91.3%) in Monday's victory. The Commanders haven't punted since Week 1. If the season ended today -- it doesn't -- they'd be in command of the NFC East.
Pro Football Talk
Rank: 15
Week 3 ranking: 26
**Mike Florio:** It's a good thing for Malik Nabers that they canceled the $10,000 OROY bet.
Check out the top photos of the Washington Commanders during their Week 3 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals, presented by Sony. (Photos by Emilee Fails/Washington Commanders)
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Quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) searching for an intended target during the Washington Commanders vs Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 23rd 2024. (Alyssa Howell/Washington Commanders)
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Tight end Zach Ertz (86) with the reception during the Washington Commanders vs Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 23rd 2024. (Alyssa Howell/Washington Commanders)
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Defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton (95) with tackle during the Washington Commanders vs Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 23rd 2024. (Alyssa Howell/Washington Commanders)
Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste (25) makes a tackle during the Washington Commanders vs Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 23rd 2024. (Alyssa Howell/Washington Commanders)
Running back Austin Ekeler (30) with the carry during the Washington Commanders vs Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 23rd 2024. (Alyssa Howell/Washington Commanders)
Wide receiver Noah Brown (85) signals for first down during the Washington Commanders vs Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 23rd 2024. (Alyssa Howell/Washington Commanders)
Defensive end Jamin Davis (52) makes a tackle during the Washington Commanders vs Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 23rd 2024. (Alyssa Howell/Washington Commanders)
Running back Brian Robinson Jr (8) with the carry during the Washington Commanders vs Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 23rd 2024. (Alyssa Howell/Washington Commanders)
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Bleacher Report
Rank: 18
Week 3 ranking: 26
B/R staff: Daniels certainly appeared comfortable in the moment -- and while one start does not a career make, we may have witnessed the coming-out party for one of the league's next great young quarterbacks in the Queen City.
Sporting News
Rank: 16
Week 3 ranking: 26
Vinnie Iyer: The Commanders have seen great flashes with Jayden Daniels and let him loose as a passer to match his running to awesome results in Cincinnati. They need to keep being more aggressive offensively because the defense needs that help every week.
Fox Sports
Rank: 18
Week 3 ranking: 28
David Helman: I can't say for sure that this is sustainable, but how do you not give the Commanders a massive bump after what we saw Monday night? If Jayden Daniels is capable of even playing close to the level we saw in Cincinnati, this team has a completely different ceiling than most of us anticipated. They haven't punted since Week 1!
Sports Illustrated
Rank: 14
Week 3 ranking: 26
Connor Orr: Jayden Daniels has been meeting the moment for two straight weeks now. Above and beyond his rookie counterparts, he has put his team consistently in position to win games and is delivering clutch throws in those games to facilitate wins. While quarterbacks with more tools often find themselves further ahead earlier on in their rookie season, Daniels is blowing away the RGIII comparisons and creating his own very promising narrative in D.C.
