The Washington Commanders never wavered on drafting Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick last spring. They knew he was a generational talent after a string of first-round busts that crippled the franchise.
He showed it Sunday, as Daniels’ five touchdowns beat the Philadelphia Eagles, put the Commanders on the verge of the playoffs, and even kept a slim chance of winning the NFC East alive. This after the team trailed 14-0 early, 30-28 late, and didn’t seal the win until six seconds remained.
“I always believe that we can win a game no matter what,” Daniels said. “I love those type of situations. Those are – it’s on thin ice and plays need to be made. That’s what you live for if you really love this sport. You play for those big-time moments where it comes down to the end.”
Yet, the 64,128 at Northwest Stadium, evenly divided by Eagles and Commanders backers, saw one the venue’s better games since 1997. And, with two games remaining, maybe its most successful team. Washington matched its best year since 2012 with a 10-5 start, with Atlanta and Dallas remaining.
It’s largely because of Daniels. The obvious runaway NFL Offensive Player of the Year winner threw for five touchdowns, including his second to Jamison Crowder in the waning moments. With no running game or tight ends to bail him out, Daniels carried this team and did it with the ease of a handcart.
Daniels is the calm person in the room when chaos erupts. The one who says, “We got it” and then delivers. Daniels is the first to throw four touchdowns in the final 30 seconds of regulation or overtime since the 1966 NFL merger. And, he’s only 15 games into his career.
“If you give [Daniels] moments, he really lights up in those spots,” coach Dan Quinn said. “He became a heavy hitter.”
Actually, the Commanders confirmed they’re heavy hitters. There were doubters, saying the team hadn’t beaten a winning team this season until the Eagles, whose 10 straight victories included Washington on Nov. 14. That the Commanders were simply feasting on a soft schedule brought speculation of their real worth.
But beating the Eagles was a signature win, and on the brink of the postseason, showed the Commanders can be dangerous come January. Maybe not in February, as Quinn conceded the team needs more to join the elite, but this sure is a scrappy team that can fight its way through the playoffs.
“One thing about our team that I really admire [is] we're never out of the fight,” he said. “There's a lot to be gained from today it was ugly in some ways, but it was also excellent in some ways of resilience and these guys not backing down. We've had some games I thought we rode a rollercoaster and we didn't do that today. We didn't feel like we were ever out of the fight and there [were] other games when I felt highs and lows and so to stay consistent as a team overall is this one of those statement games. This is an example of what you're talking about you said they keep that fight going.”
The fight continues next on Sunday Night Football against the Atlanta Falcons, where a win seals a playoff bid and officially sends Kirk Cousins' current team to a January on the couch. Then there’s a revenge game against Dallas.
And then the first round of the playoffs? It could very well be the Eagles.
“The sky’s the limit,” Daniels said. “Keep taking it week by week.”