On Saturday night, the Washington Commanders, led by their All-World rookie QB Jayden Daniels, traveled to Detroit and stunned everyone by blasting the favored Lions, 45-31.
The only ones not shocked by the victory were the Commanders as they expected to win because they had “that guy” in Daniels.
While most had praised the rising star this season, many hadn’t had the chance to see him on a national stage.
Not only did Daniels show everyone what he could do, he did it against a Super Bowl favorite in primetime.
Daniels was 22-31 for 299 yards and 2 TDs. He also rushed 16 times for 51 yards, but his most impressive traits weren’t his numbers. Instead, it was how even-keeled he was during the biggest game of his young career, a game that pushed the Commanders to the NFC championship game for the first time since Washington won its third Super Bowl 33 years ago.
“It’s a surreal moment,” said Daniels after the game, almost acting like it wasn’t the big deal that it was.
The Commanders and their fans have had a long and frustrating journey to this season, one marred by the disturbing and hostile environment fostered by former owner, Daniel Snyder.
Then the team was purchased by Harris Blitizer Sports & Entertainment head Josh Harris for $6.05 billion last July, which ushered in a new culture and removed the dark cloud and stain left by Snyder, giving fans renewed hope.
And then the Commanders selected Daniels with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
While the season started with a 37-20 loss to the Bucs, Daniels showed what he was capable of, and that turned heads quickly, especially after a four-game winning streak during which he averaged 237.8 yards passing, completed a ridiculous 78.3% of his passes and had 4 TDs and 2 INTs. He also averaged 53 yards rushing and had 2 rushing TDs.
Daniels led the team to a 12-5 regular season record. That turnaround was stunning considering the team finished 4-13 last year, including eight straight losses to conclude the season.
Many thought Caleb Williams was the best QB prospect in last year’s draft, but some believed Daniels was better.
Daniels spent the first three years at Arizona State, becoming the first true freshman to start a season opener for the Sun Devils. That year, he threw for 2,943 yards, 17 TDs and only 2 INTs.
After a Covid-shortened sophomore season that was shortened to four games, he started all 13 games the following season. Afterward, he transferred to LSU and lit up the SEC.
In his first year in Baton Rouge, he led the Tigers to a 10-4 record and a spot in the SEC Championship game while setting the school record for QB rushing yards (885) and rushing TDs (11). He also broke Joe Burrow’s record for rushing and passing TDs in the same game (5) with 6.
In his final year, Daniels went off, throwing for 3,812 yards with 40 TDs and 4 INTs. He was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-SEC, a Consensus All-America and won the Heisman Trophy.
So when he finally entered the NFL, Daniels had five years of experience against some of the best competition in college football.
Earlier this season, his name was in the NFL MVP conversation, but that trailed off as Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen pulled away.
Daniels is now the sixth rookie QB to play in a conference championship game, joining the Bucs’ Shaun King (1999), the Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger (2004), the Ravens’ Joe Flacco (2008), the Jets’ Mark Sanchez (2009) and the 49ers’ Brock Purdy (2022).
And with a win over either the Eagles or the Rams, he will become the first rookie QB in NFL history to start in a Super Bowl.
Jayden Daniels is the truth.
