Jayden Daniels Delivers Commanders' Play of the Century | 4 Downs
Jayden Daniels Delivers Commanders' Play of the Century | 4 Downs
Washington's New Hope, Detroit’s Grit, Cleveland’s Turning Point, and Hurts' Return to Form Spark a Wild NFL Sunday
Jayden Daniels was a game-time decision Sunday, and went on to deliver the play of the year in the NFL, and arguably the Washington Commanders’ most memorable play of this century.
After Caleb Williams — chosen one pick before the Commanders scooped up Daniels in this spring’s draft — capped a methodical 10-play touchdown drive with :27 remaining to give the Chicago Bears a 15-12 lead, Daniels proved that anything is possible until the scoreboard reads quadruple zeroes.
Daniels led Washington’s offense back onto the field with :19 remaining, at their own 24-yard line.
The optimism of ‘just needing a field goal to tie’ quickly evaporated for the Commanders when the first three plays yielded only 24 yards, and left Daniels and his troops at their own 48-yard line with six seconds left on the clock.
Too. Much. Time.
Daniels took a low snap from his own 48-yard line, rolled to his right to evade pressure before reversing course and scrambling back to his left, eventually stepping into a Hail Mary deep downfield that bounced off a crowd of players at the two-yard line and right into Noah Brown’s hands for the most memorable 52-yard touchdown you’ll see.
In that one, jaw-dropping moment, Daniels showed the qualities of a true franchise quarterback.
An AFC scout echoed this sentiment immediately after the game, telling me, “Jayden is special.’”
According to NextGen Stats, Daniels’ game-winner was the first pass since 2016 to take 10 seconds to develop but it took far quicker than that to lend legitimacy to the Commanders’ hopes as a contender in the NFC East and affirm the 23-year-old’s status as a legitimate franchise quarterback.
“I have no idea what the Bears were thinking on that play,” the scout says. “You have to send five [rushers], you just can’t let him sit back there with all day to throw.”
Daniels made the Bears pay and continued the surge of momentum behind the now 6-2 Commanders.
In the shadow of the Nation’s Capital, Bears-Commanders felt like a playoff preview and the first of some epic showdowns to come between this spring’s No. 1 and No. 2 overall NFL Draft picks.
Daniels went toe to toe with Williams, leading Washington out to a 12-0 lead while completing 21-of-38 passes for 326 yards with one touchdown and rushing eight times for 52 yards, only to watch the player chosen one pick before him land his share of haymakers in the final frame.
Throughout Sunday’s game, Daniels repeatedly had his ribs wrapped on the bench between series. The Commanders’ receivers were plagued by drops in big spots, and Washington’s defense allowed Williams and the Bears to come barnstorming back with 15 unanswered points in the second half, including 95 passing yards in the fourth quarter from the former USC standout.
Unfortunately for the Bears, Williams and head coach Matt Eberflus left too much time on the clock for Daniels. He made them pay.
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner continues to improve each week, as he continues to be the catalyst for Washington’s emergence as a legitimate playoff threat, and if the season ended today, would garner significant MVP consideration.
Daniels has now passed for 1,736 yards with seven touchdowns to two interceptions through his first eight games, and has his Commanders sitting atop the NFC East standings with roughly half the season already played.
Washington has four wins against conference foes stashed away for tiebreaker season, and a quarterback with the temperament, skill-set, and pedigree to turn 2024 into a special season with a future for the franchise that is brighter than it has been in decades.
After Sunday’s dramatic comeback, it is more obvious than ever that head coach Dan Quinn is instilling a belief in the locker room, general manager Adam Peters and a revamped front office are rebuilding the Commanders the right way, but, Daniels is offering the most important reason of all for Washington to be more optimistic than they have been in a generation.
With one unforgettable throw, Daniels proved to Washington and the league that he has what it takes to be the centerpiece of the Commanders’ new era.
Inside this column; the Detroit Lions’ resourceful explosiveness sends a message that reverberates throughout league, Jameis Winston and the Browns stun the Ravens raising serious questions about Cleveland’s future, Jalen Hurts returns to form, and much more.
Here are key takeaways and awards from one of the most dramatic NFL Sundays in recent memory that featured eight games decided by one score, five of which by a field goal or less.
First Down: Dan Campbell’s Marauding Lions Are Relentless
Dan Campbell’s Marauding Lions continue to find new ways to win while making it wholly obvious that this is the most complete team in the NFL.
The latest example of Detroit’s dominance took place Sunday, with Campbell’s squad taking care of business, easily, in a 52-14 systematic dismantling of the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
Watching from afar, one veteran personnel man was awed by the Lions’ versatility.