CINCINNATI — Not many people would have predicted the Washington Commanders would outscore the Cincinnati Bengals in the third week of the NFL season, but that’s exactly the scenario we saw Monday night at Paycor Stadium.

The Bengals started the night by catching the kickoff and wasting no time getting the ball down the field before quarterback Joe Burrow connected with star receiver Ja’Marr Chase for a 41-yard touchdown pass that went over the head of Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil, with safety Percy Butler entering the picture too late to impact the game.

As disappointing as the opening drive was for Washington’s defense, the first offensive drive of the game was just as encouraging. Much was made of the Cincinnati defense’s inability to stop running backs, but the Commanders got Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr. into the game early, with the two combining for seven touches.

That drive ended in a one-yard touchdown run by Robinson to tie Washington. After a missed field goal try by Cincinnati, Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels brought his offense back onto the field.

Seven plays and 62 yards later, Washington again hit paydirt on a drive capped by a 24-yard Ekeler run into the end zone. Another extra point made by Austin Seibert gave the Commanders a 14-7 lead after two touchdowns on the team’s first two possessions.

While the offense continued to play strong, the defense continued to play softly, running counter to the identity defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. wants for his unit.

Washington played coverage at nearly every level of the defense, allowing Burrow and the Bengals to drive all the way down the field again, but they were stopped again before reaching the end zone. This time, Evan McPherson’s kick was good, and Cincinnati cut the Commanders’ lead to 14-10 with more than five minutes left in the first half.

Daniels and the Commanders offense had plenty of time and wasted none of it. More importantly, the young quarterback finally connected with star receiver Terry McLaurin for a 55-yard bomb behind pursuing Cincinnati cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt. On the next play, Daniels held an option and did the rest, taking it in for a four-yard touchdown run, Washington’s third of the game.

The drive gave the Commanders a 21-10 lead and drew some cheers from the Bengals crowd.

However, Burrow and the Cincinnati offense had time to make up for the defense’s deficiencies and immediately moved the ball to Washington’s 25-yard line, forcing coach Dan Quinn to call his second timeout of the half with 53 seconds left before halftime.

It appeared to give his defense a chance to rally, and after four more plays — including two incomplete passes — the Bengals had to attempt another field goal, cutting their lead to 21-13 with 22 seconds left in the first half.

Quinn elected to have his quarterback kneel on the ball, and that’s where we stood at halftime: Washington leading by eight points, Bengals fans booing, and the Commanders kicking off the second half.

Stay with CommandantGameday and the Commanders in lock down podcast for more FREE Washington Commanders coverage throughout the 2024 season.

• Commanders vs. Bengals Live Game Updates

• Commanders fan takes on Bengals on Monday Night Football

• NFC East Roundup: Cowboys Only Losers Sunday as Eagles, Giants Win

• The role of new commanders is expected to increase