Grant and Danny couldn’t recall a more celebratory Victory Tuesday than the one they enjoyed after Monday’s win over the Bengals, which marked a national, primetime arrival for Jayden Daniels.
“A star may have been born last night,” Grant said. “This team doesn’t punt anymore, because he is a cheat code on third-and-short with what he provides with his feet.”
Daniels was near perfect on Monday, completing 21 of 23 passes and tossing two touchdowns while running in another. He also orchestrated a late drive, capped by a Terry McLaurin touchdown, to seal the win. It was a dominant performance by a rookie who displayed the tools of a star.
“He had a game that almost every quarterback in the league cannot have,” Grant said. “Taylor Heinicke on his best day? No. Carson Wentz on his best day? No. Alex Smith on two legs? No.”
Danny was particularly fired up after the win, celebrating the joy of getting to watch his team defeat a desperate Super Bowl hopeful on the road on national television.
“They felt what I had to feel for 30-plus years,” Danny said of the frustrated fans in Cincinnati. “Be jealous. Swallow it. taste my pain. It’s our turn. It’s our time. He is here and he wears No. 5. Everyone else can line up and kiss 100 percent of my tuchus. Just taste the fury that we have what you don’t have.
“That was incredible. What a joyful and perfect evening last night.”