The Cincinnati Bengals were expected by many to get back on the right track on Monday night against the Washington Commanders. But instead, Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels put on quite a show and proved Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt wrong about his comments before the game.
Ahead of the game, Taylor-Britt was quite critical of both Daniels and the Commanders’ scheme created by new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, saying that Kingsbury “doesn’t make him do a lot” and that Kingsbury ran “a college offense”.
“They don’t make him do a lot,” Taylor-Britt told reporters last week. “They keep it really simple for him. Nice college offense. [Kliff] Kingsbury’s the OC.” They love to move guys around here and there. But you know, just keeping it real simple for him. I heard his pass percentage is very high. But he’s only throwing short routes. Some intermediate stuff, quick throws.”
Bengals CB Cam Taylor-Britt broke down Commanders rookie QB Jayden Daniels’ game: “They don’t make him do a lot. They keep it really simple for him. Nice college offense. (Kliff) Kingsbury’s the OC.” pic.twitter.com/CeJKATlzmF
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) September 20, 2024
When it came time for the game, Daniels did a whole lot more than throw “quick throws”. In fact, he made a number of key deep throws throughout the game, beating Taylor-Britt on several occasions on big plays that led to a Commanders 38-33 victory.
Jayden Daniels has arrived.
📺: #WASvsCIN on ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/YExOYzh9cD— NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2024
One thing that Taylor-Britt did get correct is that Daniels’ “passing percentage” was quite high. It remained very high after Week 3, as he actually broke the all-time rookie record for the best completion percentage in a game at 91.3 percent.
Jayden Daniels tonight in his first primetime game:
– 21/23 (91.3% rookie NFL record)
– 293 total yards
– 3 total TDs
– 0 INTs
– 141.7 passer rating.
Washington, you have a franchise quarterback. pic.twitter.com/hZKPlAHo4j
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 24, 2024
It was a coming-out party for Daniels that very few expected at this point in his rookie season. And for Taylor-Britt, he had some questions to answer about his pregame comments about Daniels and Kingsbury.
When asked about the comments after the game, Taylor-Britt said that he “doesn’t regret” saying what he said. But he does realize that he has to “eat his words” after the Commanders’ victory.
“No, ma’am I do not regret it,” Taylor-Britt said in response to the question from Bengals beat writer Kelsey Conway. “And I didn’t mean anything malicious out of the comment. It was made bigger than what it was. Yes, I can eat my words most definitely. We did take an L today as a team. It was very quick throws. He was very athletic extending plays. Yeah, that’s how the game went. They stuck to their plan and that’s how it went.”
Cam Taylor-Britt on his comments about the Commanders offense before the game and if he regrets it: pic.twitter.com/7NmcLAbhdG
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) September 24, 2024
It didn’t seem like Taylor-Britt did mean any ill will with his comments from the very beginning. But clearly, he did end up being quite wrong about the promising rookie quarterback.