As the 2023 season was winding down last year, LSU’s Daniels was part of a Heisman Trophy-winning team, having defeated Texas A&M on November 25, 2023, with only the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Day remaining. Fast forward to the present, Daniels and the Commanders have a significantly different narrative, with a season marked by a downturn in performance over the past three games.
Daniels, the rookie quarterback, led the team to a 7-2 start, showcasing impressive numbers, including a 71.5 completion percentage, a 106.7 passer rating, and a 9:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. However, this hot start has given way to a rough patch, with Daniels throwing just three touchdowns and matching number of interceptions, a 61.5 completion percentage, and a 77.7 passer rating over the last three games.
The scrutiny has extended to the team’s offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury, who has a history of struggling in the second half of the season. Kingsbury’s teams have scored an average of four points fewer and produced 40 yards less per game from November to January compared to September to October. The Commanders, who were tied for first in the NFL with 31.1 points per game through the first seven weeks, have seen their average points per game drop to 23.2 since Week 8.