For the remainder of his NFL profession, Jayden Daniels could by no means produce one other play extra memorable than the Hail Mary landing he threw in October to win solely his eighth profession recreation.
But that gorgeous, game-winning rating to beat the Chicago Bears wasn’t the final clutch efficiency of Daniels’ rookie season. Because of his knack for late-game heroics, the Washington Commanders are going to the playoffs for the primary time since 2020.
One week after main a 10-point, second-half comeback to beat the Philadelphia Eagles, Daniels led the Commanders on Sunday to yet one more victory, this time in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons.
The victory got here after the Falcons — led by their very own rookie quarterback, Michael Penix Jr. — had been forward by 10 within the second quarter, and missed on a possible game-winning discipline aim on the finish of regulation.
Daniels threw a 2-yard landing go to tight finish Zach Ertz in additional time to win 30-24 and clinch the wild card playoff berth.
Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner as school soccer’s most excellent participant, was the second general choose in final spring’s NFL draft. He arrived in Washington beneath vital expectations because the face of a franchise present process a reset, with a brand new proprietor hiring a brand new head coach.
He has not solely confirmed to be good at pumping up his statistics — on Sunday, he set a brand new document for speeding yards by a rookie quarterback, breaking Robert Griffin III’s previous mark of 815 — however being good when it issues most with a consistency that’s uncommon, in response to NFL analysis.
Chants of “MVP” had been heard in Washington’s stadium throughout additional time Sunday — and that was earlier than Daniels discovered Ertz for the game-winning, playoff-clinching rating.
Washington is now 11-5 with one recreation remaining however its playoff berth assured, making it unclear whether or not Daniels will play within the regular-season finale or relaxation.
He is presently Washington’s season chief in each passing and speeding yards. Should he end because the chief in each classes, it could be the primary time since 1935 — when the workforce performed in Boston in solely its fourth yr of existence — that the franchise’s quarterback has additionally been its prime rusher.
