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Monday Night Football: Highlights of Commanders-Bengals, Bills-Jaguars

Vaseline September 24, 2024

Quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Josh Allen both shined on Monday night as they led their teams to impressive victories to close out Week 3.

Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft, was terrific in the Washington Commanders’ thrilling 38-33 upset of the Cincinnati Bengals, completing 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns.

His second touchdown was the deciding play of the game, and perhaps the night.

With the Commanders holding a slim 31-26 lead, and having converted a fourth down earlier in the drive, Daniels was looking at a 3rd-and-7 at the Bengals’ 27-yard line. With a pass rusher coming toward him, Daniels absorbed a hit and laid a perfect pass to Terry McLaurin down the right sideline. McLaurin made a diving catch in the end zone for what would prove to be the go-ahead score with just over two minutes remaining.

The surprising Commanders improved their score to 2-1 with the victory.

Meanwhile, the Bengals fell to 0-3 with the loss, a shocking start for a team that many thought would be an AFC contender. After an opening-week loss to the New England Patriots, that’s now twice Cincinnati has lost this season as a sizable home favorite.

No team has ever won the Super Bowl with an 0-3 record.

The Buffalo Bills, on the other hand, are a contender for the AFC, but have performed well at home.

The Bills defeated the Jaguars 47-10. Buffalo scored touchdowns on its first five possessions and went into halftime with a 34-10 lead.

Allen was dominant, throwing for 263 yards on 23 of 30 passing. He threw for four touchdowns — all in the first half. He also threw for 247 yards in the first half, more than the Jacksonville Jaguars’ entire game total of 239. Six different Bills scored touchdowns in the game.

On the other hand, it’s the eighth straight loss for quarterback Trevor Lawrence since last season. He was inefficient Monday, throwing for just 178 yards on 38 attempts. He also threw an interception — which was the first career pick for Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin.