A star was born on Monday night in the battle of former Heisman Trophy winners as well as LSU Tigers. Jayden Daniels has let everyone know he is here for all the world to see.
A mere three games into an emerging NFL career, Daniels was spectacular in his prime-time debut under the lights, accumulating three total touchdowns in the Washington Commanders’ stunning 38-33 Monday night victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Displaying poise and maturity beyond his NFL experience, and with pinpoint accuracy, Daniels had more touchdowns than incompletions after completing 21 of 23 passes (91.3%) for 254 yards, two touchdowns and rushing for another score as part of his team-leading 39 rushing yards on 12 carries.
“I just said I’m a competitor,” Daniels said when asked what he showed the NFL. “I want to compete at the highest level. Obviously, it’s a blessing to go out there each and every Sunday to do things that a lot of people in the world can’t do. To be blessed to be a part of one of the 32 teams and go out there and compete every Sunday — and Mondays, or whenever we play.”
With Daniels’ unbelievable dual-threat ability and skillset on display all night long, it was just as much his decision-making and maturity that shone through. In the make-it-or-break-it moments on one of the biggest stages that the NFL world has to offer, he did not wilt or crumble beneath the pressure, like most rookie signal caller do, instead, he rose to the occasion.
“He’s a really cool customer and he’s got real poise about him,” Commanders’ head coach Dan Quinn said.
“Going in, we knew the importance of the ball and the decision-making for that. We just couldn’t give them short fields and chances to go. So, his ability to know when to, when not to, when to make a play with his legs, we’ve seen a lot of this at practice and now it’s carrying into the games where the decision-making, sliding, going, taking your shot, I thought it was a really strong performance tonight by him.”
It was a performance that earned praise beyond just those with the Commanders.
“He’s a great effing player, I’m not gonna lie,” said Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, an LSU product like Daniels. “That was my first time sitting down and watching him besides the spring game. He’s a very outstanding player.”
Although it is just one game on the schedule, it was the next chapter in a book that what was already a promising start for Daniels after good outings against the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in which he completed more of 70% of his passes, played turnover-free ball and toted the rock for a pair of touchdowns.
“He’s continuing to grow on the job,” Quinn said. “And that’s part of he and all of his teammates that are the first-year guys that are growing and learning, when to extend a play, when to get down, when to use his legs. A few days ago, I said, ‘What did you learn over the first two games?’ And it happened again tonight.”
Daniels littered Paycor Stadium with historical nuggets.
Embed from Getty ImagesHis 91.3% completion percentage was the highest in a game for a rookie in history, according to NFL Research. Since 2000, Daniels joined Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott and Los Angeles Chargers Justin Herbert as the only rookie quarterbacks with rushing and passing scores in a prime-time game. And no player, at least since 1950, has ever thrown for 250 yards, multiple touchdowns, rushed for a touchdown and completed 90 percent of his passes until Daniels did it Monday, according to NFL Research.
Even with that laundry list of firsts for Daniels, he was not all that shocked at what he was able to accomplish. That, he explained, comes from preparation and hard work.
“Yes and no,” Daniels said when asked if he was surprised by his immediate success. “Yes, because obviously it’s something new to me as I continue this journey in my rookie year. But also, I put in the work, and what’s done in the dark will always come to light. I just know I’m prepared for these moments week in and week out. Just got to go out there and play football and execute.”
Through his first two games, Daniels was still without his first touchdown pass, but that also came with historical flare when he hooked up with offensive lineman Trent Scott for a 1-yard ‘thick six’ in the third quarter. Not since J.P. Losman connected with Jason Peters on September 11, 2005 has a rookie first-round quarterback thrown his first touchdown pass to an offensive lineman, and Daniels is the first top-five selection to do it.
It was Daniels’ second touchdown, a 27-yard pass to ‘Scary’ Terry McLaurin, that was easily the more jaw-dropping of the two. With the Bengals having trimmed the score to 31-26 after the Commanders had taken a 28-13 lead following the Scott score, Washington was in danger of ruining Daniels’ sensational evening. So, on third-and-7 with 2:15 to play, Daniels and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury took things into their own hands and went for the knockout punch. Daniels, grinning at a pass rush, absorbed a massive hit and delivered a beautiful ball that McLaurin turned into a brilliant catch.
On a picturesque night, Daniels showed his calm in the clutch, his fortitude, his accuracy, all in one play.
“They put the time in, and if they hadn’t put the time in you wouldn’t have the confidence to go into that space,” Quinn said. “But with all the work they’ve done, obviously we hadn’t connected on some of the deep ones to Terry over the first two games, but we knew that wasn’t going to be the case moving forward. So, when we had our chances and our moments to go, it was just a really good ball and great catch by Terry, too.”
Washington is sitting at 2-1 on the season now and feeling pretty good about 2024. As for their quarterback, the Commanders are feeling rather ecstatic about 2024 and beyond.
For an organization that has seemingly been on a never-ending quarterback carousel went off the rails decades ago, this was the type of star-announcing display Washington has been starving for since the departure of Doug Williams. Daniels became the eighth Washington Week 1 starting quarterback in as many seasons when he debuted this year. After a scintillating 60 minutes on Monday Night Football, the Commanders might well feel they have truly found a quarterback to hitch their wagon to for the foreseeable future.
The Commanders continue their road trip to Arizona to face Kyler Murray and the Cardinals on Sunday.
The Bengals are on the road and will square off against Andy Dolton, who played for their franchise for many years and the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
