Jayden Daniels has gone through a slump in recent weeks. The supporting cast around the quarterback hasn't shone and he's suffering as a result. That had to change if the Washington Commanders wanted to head into their bye week on a high.
Daniels faced another difficult contest before his extended rest period. The Tennessee Titans gave Houston Texans signal-caller C.J. Stroud untold issues in Week 12 en route to a surprising victory. They have gifted players at all three levels of the field, so nothing but improved tempo and supreme execution would suffice.
The Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU remains a franchise presence under center. Daniels was always going to encounter struggles as a rookie at some stage. How he fights back in the face of adversity will tell fans a lot about what they can expect from the dual-threat weapon long-term.
There was an enormous amount of pressure for Daniels to produce the goods and lead his team to an eighth win of the season. As it turned out, the signal-caller looked back to his old self as the Commanders got back to winning ways with minimal fuss.
With this in mind, here are five major observations from Daniels' performance in Week 13 at Northwest Stadium.
Major observations from Jayden Daniels' performance against the Titans
Jayden Daniels' early rhythm
Getting into an early rhythm was critical for the Washington Commanders and Jayden Daniels in this one to alleviate the doubts surrounding them after three straight losses. They answered the call emphatically.
The Commanders were in relentless mood to begin the contest. They ran riot over the Titans right out of the gate in all phases. This allowed Daniels to dictate the tempo and play with the free-flowing nature fans had come to expect earlier in the campaign.
Washington relied heavily on the running game to set the tone. Once this was firmly established, Daniels had enough space to do damage in the passing game, carving open the Titans and going through his progressions effectively behind a much-improved offensive line.
This calmed the nerves of everybody. Fans were wondering if the Commanders had run their race this season after a sensational first half of 2024. But as long as Daniels is given this foundation to thrive, they'll be a match for anybody.