Jayden Daniels gains 100 rushing yards
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had tremendous difficulty with mobile quarterbacks this season. That should be music to the ears of Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders.
Daniels willed the Commanders into the playoffs. His exceptional determination, relentless drive, and supreme composure in the biggest moments steered them through. This cemented his status as a franchise quarterback and propelled him to NFL superstardom.
Washington made the right pick. Daniels has galvanized an entire franchise and fans are dreaming big once again. They know that if the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft has a chance to close things out, he'll always come through.
One could argue that the Commanders have been too reliant on Daniels' rushing ability down the stretch. Brian Robinson Jr. regressed at the worst possible time and veteran Austin Ekeler spent a few weeks on the shelf with a serious concussion. That cannot continue for much longer, but the Buccaneers' vulnerability with quarterbacks who can get out on the move is something Kliff Kingsbury should exploit.
Daniels needs to pick and choose his spots. When things aren't developing as expected downfield, he needs to trust his instincts. And hopefully, the leg issue that caused him to leave Washington's regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys early won't impact his performance levels.
Marshon Lattimore holds Mike Evans under 60 receiving yards
It didn't take long for the biggest storyline to emerge once the Commanders' opponent for the Wild Card round was confirmed. Something that adds a little extra spice to the occasion.
Marshon Lattimore and Mike Evans don't like each other. There might be respect between the two, but they quickly became bitter enemies on the field. This often boiled over with skirmishes, extra-curricular activity after the whistle, and even suspensions in the wide receiver's case.
Lattimore knows how to get under Evans' skin. He's also done extremely well against the prolific pass-catcher during their previous clashes. That's positive, but there's no telling how this one will go considering he's featured just twice since joining the Commanders via trade from the New Orleans Saints.
That won't go unnoticed by Buccaneers' quarterback Baker Mayfield. He'll know Lattimore might be rusty and not at 100 percent. Expect the four-time Pro Bowler to be tested early to see how he fares. All signs have been positive in practice this week, but a competitive playoff setting is a different beast entirely.
Lattimore won't back down from the fight. He'll go looking for Evans immediately and will keep the same mindset for as long as he's on the field. If he can also hold the future Pro Football Hall of Famer to under 60 receiving yards, that'll be a major boost to Washington's hopes.