LANDOVER, Md. — When the Washington Commanders took possession 57 yards from the top zone with lower than two minutes remaining and trailing by 5 factors towards 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. “At this time, 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 another win. The Commanders subsequent play Dec. 28 towards the Atlanta Falcons (8-7).
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For Daniels, Sunday’s efficiency was a continuation of huge performs and even greater 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 towards these sorts 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 towards Dallas that may have resulted in a tie had Washington made the second additional 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 subject aim 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 at the very least 10 begins. He has thrown an NFL-best 4 landing passes in that stretch.
“I like these sorts of conditions,” Daniels mentioned. “These are when it is on skinny ice and performs should be made. That is what you reside for. For those who actually love the game you reside for these big-time moments the place it comes right down to the top, the whole lot’s towards you, your again is towards the wall. How will you reply?”
It is why Daniels is taken into account the possible front-runner to win offensive rookie of the yr. He now has 22 landing passes.
“I see a whole lot of poise,” Crowder mentioned. “He is cool, calm, collected beneath strain. Lots of occasions you do not get that from a whole lot 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 — informed 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 strategy 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 creating the proper performs when it is time. You possibly can’t train that. His capability to get higher each week and study from his errors is why he has an opportunity to be one of many nice ones.”
Daniels additionally damage 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 course of the sector, 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 form 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 per 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 observe when driving for the game-winning rating. The truth is, Daniels threw a landing move to Crowder on the identical route towards the identical two-safety look in observe Friday.
Due to this preparation, Daniels avoids feeling confused — even after throwing an interception late within the fourth quarter that led to an Eagles subject aim.
“That retains the remainder of us calm,” Washington guard Sam Cosmi mentioned. “The largest factor that is nice to see is the person who has probably the most perception in his capability is himself. He is a canine; he is a competitor. I am actually completely happy he is my QB.”
