The Washington Commanders earned their most impressive victory of the season on Sunday, stunning the Philadelphia Eagles 36-33 thanks to a dazzling 5 touchdown performance from rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. In a thrilling NFC East matchup with major playoff implications, it was the first-year signal caller who emerged as the brightest star.
Daniels Delivers in the Clutch
Facing a 10-game winning streak and the NFC’s top seed in the Eagles, Jayden Daniels showed no signs of being intimidated by the big stage. The rookie calmly orchestrated scoring drives throughout the game, saving his best for last in crunch time.
Trailing by 5 with under 2 minutes to play, Daniels took over at his own 43-yard line needing a touchdown. He promptly led Washington down the field, capping the drive with a perfectly placed 9-yard strike to Jamison Crowder for the game-winning score with just 6 seconds remaining. It was Daniels’ 5th TD pass of the day, making him only the 7th rookie QB in NFL history to accomplish that feat.
“He really lights up in those spots. Today, he became a heavy hitter.”
– Commanders coach Dan Quinn on Jayden Daniels
Offense Erupts Behind Young QB
Daniels’ heroics electrified the entire Washington offense on Sunday. The rookie spread the ball around to his playmakers, tossing touchdowns to four different receivers:
- 2 TDs to Jamison Crowder, including the game-winner
- 1 TD each to Terry McLaurin, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Curtis Samuel
McLaurin, who caught a gorgeous 32-yard TD from Daniels in the 2nd quarter, had high praise for his young quarterback after the game:
“I see a lot of poise. He’s cool, calm, collected under pressure. A lot of times you don’t get that from a lot of quarterbacks.”
– Terry McLaurin on Jayden Daniels
Making Plays with His Legs
In addition to his prolific passing, Daniels also burned the Eagles defense with his rushing ability. The dual-threat QB ran for a team-high 82 yards on the ground, consistently extending drives with his legs.
None were bigger than his 29-yard scramble on 4th and 11 late in the 4th quarter, weaving through defenders to move the chains and set up an eventual TD pass. Those types of plays have quickly become a signature for the slippery Daniels.
Preparation Meets Opportunity
Teammates say Daniels’ poise under pressure is a credit to his extensive preparation. The rookie is frequently the first player to arrive at the team facility, often as early as 5:30am for private walkthroughs with his offensive coordinator.
That preparation paid off in a major way on Sunday. With the game on the line, Daniels calmly found Crowder for the winning TD on the same route combination they had practiced just two days prior. When his number was called, the young QB was ready to deliver.
“That keeps the rest of us calm. The biggest thing that’s great to see is the person that has the most belief in his ability is himself.”
– Commanders OL Sam Cosmi on Daniels’ confidence
A Star in the Making?
While it’s still early, performances like Sunday’s 5 TD outburst have many wondering if a star is being born before our eyes in Washington. Daniels is already the frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and his play has the Commanders on the cusp of a playoff berth.
If the poised, humble Daniels can continue to deliver in the biggest moments, his future looks very bright in the nation’s capital. The Commanders appear to have found their franchise quarterback of the present and future in the unflappable rookie.
