A fresh face who plays like an old hand, Jayden Daniels was the No. 2 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft and is the No. 1 reason there’s a fervor surrounding the Washington Commanders the likes of which hasn’t been seen in decades.
Having quickly helped to rebuild a franchise and assemble a reputation for coming through in the clutch, Daniels rallied the Commanders to a pair of scoring drives in the fourth quarter to lift Washington to its first playoff triumph since the 2005 season with a 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night.
“I don’t know, I can’t really explain it, obviously I’m grateful to have the opportunity,” Daniels told reporters after the game. “I’m happy for the fanbase and franchise, everything it’s been through, to get to this point, so I’m just grateful and happy for everybody, including myself, too.”
Piloting the sixth-seeded Commanders to a win over the third-seeded Bucs was a historical endeavor on its own, but there was plenty more to be grateful for and celebrate.
Daniels compiled 268 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-35 passing, while adding a team-high 36 rushing yards. He became the first rookie to lead his team in passing and rushing in a playoff victory, per NFL Research.
As for the Washington franchise, Daniels became just the second rookie QB ever to win a playoff game and the first since Hall of Fame legend “Slinging” Sammy Baugh did it in 1937. That was the franchise’s first year in Washington, D.C. after moving from Boston. Times have changed, and perhaps that’s the biggest highlight symbolized by Sunday.
Historic as his endeavors are, the wild-card win saw the same Daniels his teammates have grown to know in short order.
“I mean, he’s done it all year,” linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “I think we kind of came into this game not thinking it was any different, we understand it’s playoffs, but it’s still the same game, and that’s kind of what we’ve been preaching all week, didn’t want to make this game bigger than it was. Obviously, the stakes were a little bit different, but he came in and played the game that we know he’s capable of playing, and he did a great job.”