Joe Theismann talked to the Junkies early Monday morning about the Commanders being a team of destiny, led by a QB in Jayden Daniels who has all the intangible boxes checked and most of the tangible ones, too, which is uncanny for a rookie.
Well, Joe T. later joined BMitch & Finlay to expand on just how big a win Sunday was for Jayden, who is now one step into his journey that, if we’re lucky, will end with a similar playoff record to Theismann’s career 6-2 mark.
“What a beautiful Monday, isn't it? It's just incredible, and it’s exciting for all of us that are alumni, and for the city and the fans – and not only was it a playoff win, but it came in what we might describe now as typical Commanders fashion,” Joe laughed. “I think about where we are today, and I think back to 1981 when Joe Gibbs took over. Brand new coach and staff, and that team came together with a lot of newness, and I think there's a lot of similarities between this football team and that one. We started 0-5, but we finished the season 8-3, and then went on a run. There’s a resiliency that reminds me of that team.”
And as for Jayden?
“He leaves you speechless. He's playing as well as any quarterback in football, irrespective of whether you're a rookie or 10-year vet. The games have been suspenseful where it's all been on his shoulders to make a throw…and the last touchdown he threw last night was one of the most impressive things I saw with everything collapsing around him,” Theismann said.
“He just doesn’t feel pressure, he’s elusive – I could put a list of 10 or 15 things up and say he checks every one of them. He’s a special talent, and to me, as a rookie, he’s a generational talent.”
BMitch, who got to DC in 1990 towards the end of that run of success, is starting to feel it too, and yeah, the excitement in DC Metro is palpable.
“There’s an energy and an excitement in the city of Washington for a lot of reasons, and the Commanders are one of those reasons.
For those people that have gone through the stretch where we really couldn't find a quarterback or a leader on the team, we were always optimistic, but now there’s such newness, and fans have embraced it in a big way,” Joe said. “People want to see this team play, and it’s a great group of guys who play together as a true team. You have every element of a great football team.”
And before he bailed, Joe T. had to give some love to one other guy in the center of the storm: DQ.
“A player’s coach is a title that I think people misunderstand; it’s not someone who lets them do whatever they want to do, but someone who has a certain degree of discipline, but allows them to be themselves and they don't let it get away, and then the accountability comes in the locker room,” Theismann said. “I played for Joe Gibbs for seven years, and I think he walked through our locker room four times. It belonged to us.”
Listen to Joe’s entire second segment of the day, which also had more on the game, some thoughts on Dan Quinn’s fourth down decisions, and much more!