Commanders 42-14 Cardinals (September 29, 2024) Game Recap

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Jayden Daniels threw for 233 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score on his desert return, and the Washington Commanders extended their winning streak to three with a 42-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Daniels – the No. 2 overall pick last spring – joined Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III and Anthony Richardson as the fourth quarterback in the Super Bowl era to score four touchdowns in his first four career games.

Daniels also completed 26 of 30 passes and has an absurd 82% completion rate in his short career. He beat Terry McLaurin for a 10-yard touchdown strike midway through the fourth quarterand found Zach Ertz in the back of the end zone on the 2-point conversion, for an insurmountable 35-14 lead.

Jeremy McNichols ran for two touchdowns and Brian Robinson Jr. had 101 yards on the ground.

Daniels and Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury had successful home games.

Daniels played three seasons in college at Arizona State before transferring to LSU, where he won the Heisman in 2023. Kingsbury was the Cardinals' head coach from 2019-22, leading the franchise to the playoffs in 2021 before leaving after a 4-13 season the following year.

Washington (3-1) took control early in the third quarter on Daniels' 9-yard touchdown run that made it 24/7. The Commanders got a big break from the previous play when Arizona's Sean Murphy-Bunting was called for pass interference on a deep ball, resulting in a 47-yard penalty.

Arizona's James Conner had a 6-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, cutting Washington's lead to 27-14. Conner ran for 104 yards. Kyler Murray completed 16 of 22 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown but was sacked four times.

Washington's offense has been the talk of the NFL in recent weeks. In the last two games, the team scored on every drive except knockdowns, becoming the first team since at least 2000 to achieve this feat.

The Commanders were back at it again against the Cardinals (1-3), systematically moving downfield on their first two drives to take a 14-7 lead. The 16-possession streak ended midway through the second quarter when Arizona's Garrett Williams made a diving attempt for an interception, which was Daniels' first possession of the season.

Washington also failed to score a first down on its next offensive possession, forcing Tress Way to punt for the first time since September 8th. But the Commanders' offensive still had a lot more good than bad to offer.

The Cardinals took a 7-0 lead on their first offensive attack and ended the game with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Murray to Marvin Harrison Jr. on a four-and-1 play. It was the rookie's fourth touchdown catch in three games.

Washington responded immediately, running 70 yards on nine carries, capped by Brian Robinson Jr.'s 6-yard touchdown run. Robinson – who played a larger role when Austin Ekeler was sidelined with a concussion – ran for 38 yards on five carries during the drive.

The Commanders followed with a 93-yard touchdown drive that ended with McNichols running 27 yards down the left sideline for a 14-7 lead with 10:18 left in the second quarter.

Injuries

Commanders: Ekeler (concussion) was among seven inactives.

Cardinals: TE Trey McBride (concussion) and DL Khyiris Tonga (knee) were among the team's inactives.

Next

Commanders: Host Cleveland next Sunday.

Cardinals: Next Sunday at San Francisco.

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