Bengals fall to Commanders, start season 0-3 for first time since 2019

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals are 0-3 to start the season for the first time since 2019.

In a game where Cincinnati's defense couldn't stop a young Washington Commanders offense, the Bengals lost on Monday Night Football, 38-33.

The Bengals started the game with an explosive opening drive where quarterback Joe Burrow connected with Ja'Marr Chase for a deep 41-yard touchdown. The touchdown marked Chase's first of the season and Burrow's 100th career score.

From there, it was downhill for the Bengals.

Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels — a fellow LSU grad alongside Burrow — was able to navigate Lou Anarumo's defense repeatedly. Cincinnati's first stop of the game came in the fourth quarter, and Washington settled for a field goal.

Daniels threw 21-for-23 and 254 yards for two touchdowns. He also rushed for one touchdown.

For his first passing touchdown of his career, Daniels hit offensive lineman Trent Scott for a 1-yard touchdown.

Daniels later hit Terry McLaurin for a 28-yard touchdown pass.

For Cincinnati, Burrow threw 29-for-38 and 324 yards and 3 touchdowns. Burrow connected with Andrei Iosivas for a 2-yard touchdown pass.

He also hit Chase with another dime for a 31-yard touchdown pass. After the touchdown, Cincinnati went for two but couldn't convert.

On the Bengals' last drive of the game, Zack Moss ran in a 1-yard touchdown.

Another chance when Cincinnati could've got more points on the board was early in the game when Evan McPherson a missed 48-yard field goal. McPherson also missed a crucial field goal against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2.

Cincinnati also dealt with an injury in the second quarter when right tackle Trent Brown was carted off the field with a right knee injury. In head coach Zac Taylor's post-game press conference, he said Brown's injury "doesn't look good."

At halftime, Corey Dillon and Tim Krumrie were inducted into the Bengals Ring of Honor.

Regardless of the loss, Burrow had an optimistic outlook for the rest of the season.

"By no means is the season over," he said. "We're 0-3, there's 14 left to play."

Burrow said the team had opportunities but "didn't cash in on them."

"We have a long way to go," Burrow said. "Credit to them they played unbelievable. We didn't quite match their level of execution."

The Bengals are on the road next week to face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Sept. 29.