LANDOVER, Md. — When the Washington Commanders took possession 57 yards from the tip zone with lower than two minutes remaining and trailing by 5 factors in opposition to a crew that had gained 10 straight video games, quarterback Jayden Daniels confirmed no indicators of stress.
It is easy to see why: Daniels continues to ship in these moments. He did so as soon as once more with a 9-yard landing move to receiver Jamison Crowder with 6 seconds remaining in a 36-33 win over the Philadelphia Eagles (12-3).
“He actually lights up in these spots,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn mentioned. “Right this moment, he turned a heavy hitter.”
However Daniels’ heroics weren’t restricted to the ultimate landing move. He turned the primary rookie quarterback in franchise historical past — and seventh in NFL historical past — to throw 5 landing passes in a recreation because the Commanders inched nearer to a playoff berth.
Washington (10-5) can clinch a spot with yet another win. The Commanders subsequent play Dec. 28 in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons (8-7).
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For Daniels, Sunday’s efficiency was a continuation of massive performs and even larger moments. He threw three landing passes within the fourth quarter alone — in addition to an interception on the Commanders’ penultimate drive.
“You wish to see the way you match up in opposition to these forms of [teams],” Daniels mentioned.
Already this season he accomplished a 52-yard Hail Mary to beat the Chicago Bears; he threw two landing passes within the ultimate 4 minutes in opposition to Dallas that will have resulted in a tie had Washington made the second further level. In a win over Cincinnati in Week 3, Daniels threw a landing move with lower than 4 minutes left to clinch a win.
Daniels additionally led a game-winning area purpose drive to beat the New York Giants in Week 2. There is a cause he is the NFL’s top-rated quarterback within the ultimate two minutes of regulation amongst quarterbacks with not less than 10 begins. He has thrown an NFL-best 4 landing passes in that stretch.
“I like these forms of conditions,” Daniels mentioned. “These are when it is on skinny ice and performs have to be made. That is what you reside for. When you actually love the game you reside for these big-time moments the place it comes all the way down to the tip, the whole lot’s in opposition to you, your again is in opposition to the wall. How will you reply?”
It is why Daniels is taken into account the probably front-runner to win offensive rookie of the yr. He now has 22 landing passes.
“I see a number of poise,” Crowder mentioned. “He is cool, calm, collected beneath strain. A number of instances you do not get that from a number of quarterbacks.”
Within the postgame locker room, receiver Terry McLaurin — who caught an over-the-shoulder 32-yard move for a landing within the second quarter — advised Daniels he liked enjoying with him. It is comprehensible: McLaurin has a career-high 12 landing catches and surpassed 1,000 yards receiving for the fifth consecutive season.
“If we’re making performs or lacking performs he simply has a solution to keep even-keel,” McLaurin mentioned. “I’ve by no means seen that from a rookie at any place, not to mention one quarterbacking. He has a method of constructing the best performs when it is time. You possibly can’t train that. His potential to get higher each week and be taught from his errors is why he has an opportunity to be one of many nice ones.”
Daniels additionally harm the Eagles together with his legs. He rushed for 82 of the Commanders’ 114 yards speeding. None mattered greater than the 29 yards he picked up on a fourth-and-11 scramble, swerving previous defenders in the midst of the sphere, to the Eagles’ 12. Three performs later he related with receiver Olamide Zaccheaus for a 4-yard landing.
“I’ve by no means seen him flinch,” McLaurin mentioned. “The one time I’ve ever seen him present emotion is after we misplaced to Baltimore [in Week 6]. He was on the sideline and I used to be upset, however I used to be type of smiling to myself as a result of [I was thinking], we have got us one. He hates to lose.”
Daniels arrives on the facility by 5:30 a.m. and conducts a walk-through with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury three days every week — ending round 6:30 a.m. Quinn mentioned he has labored his gamers extra on situational soccer than at any time in his teaching historical past.
That is why the gamers mentioned it felt identical to follow when driving for the game-winning rating. The truth is, Daniels threw a landing move to Crowder on the identical route in opposition to the identical two-safety look in follow Friday.
Due to this preparation, Daniels avoids feeling confused — even after throwing an interception late within the fourth quarter that led to an Eagles area purpose.
“That retains the remainder of us calm,” Washington guard Sam Cosmi mentioned. “The largest factor that is nice to see is the individual that has essentially the most perception in his potential is himself. He is a canine; he is a competitor. I am actually completely satisfied he is my QB.”
