Washington Commanders Aim to Make History with Rookie Quarterback Jayden Daniels
The Washington Commanders have achieved the improbable by defeating the NFC’s top-seeded Detroit Lions in the divisional round of the playoffs. With their rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels leading the charge, the team is now one step away from making history by becoming the first rookie quarterback to start for his team in a Super Bowl.
To get there, the Commanders will have to get past their NFC East rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, who are seeded second in the conference. The two teams met twice during the regular season, with the Eagles winning 26-18 in Week 11 and the Commanders taking the rematch 36-33 in Week 16.
In the Week 11 game, Daniels was still recovering from rib injuries that affected his play, particularly as a runner. However, by the time of the Week 16 rematch, Daniels was fully recovered and punished the Eagles’ defense with 24 completions in 39 attempts for 258 yards, five touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 99.1. He also ran nine times for 81 yards.
The Eagles had their own issues in Week 16, with quarterback Jalen Hurts suffering a concussion on the second drive and being replaced by backup Kenny Pickett. Saquon Barkley had a big game, but the Eagles played a “sloppy” game overall.
Hurts has struggled in the playoffs, completing just 28 of 41 passes for 259 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 101.6. He has also been sacked seven times in two games, which has affected his ability to read route concepts and respond in time.
The Commanders have an edge in the quarterback showdown, with Daniels having shown remarkable calm and poise in big games. He has also been great against pressure, which could be a key factor against the Eagles’ defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who has been dominant in recent games.
The Commanders will need to be bold and take risks on third and fourth downs, which Daniels has shown he is capable of doing. His ability to extend plays and make throws under pressure could be the difference-maker in the game.
With Daniels leading the charge, the Commanders are confident that they can make history and become the first rookie quarterback to start for his team in a Super Bowl.
