5 major observations from Jayden Daniels' performance vs. Cowboys in Week 12
By Dean Jones
Jayden Daniels' abysmal first half
The offense was abysmal over the first half. Not having Brian Robinson Jr. at 100 percent was sorely felt. But the Dallas Cowboys managed to pick up some defensive steam early on and never relinquished the advantage as coordinator Kliff Kingsbury ran out of ideas.
Jayden Daniels didn't exactly cover himself in glory. He looked jittery in the pocket once again. There was a critical error in giving up an interception when throwing it into the dirt was the preferred option. He had just three passing yards until late in the second quarter, which is nothing short of unacceptable considering the high standards he's set for himself.
This was reflected in Daniels' statistics overall. It was not a good first half from the dual-threat weapon, which is being kind.
- 56.25 percent completion
- 57 passing yards
- 0 touchdowns
- 1 interception
- 3 sacks against
- 25 rushing yards
- 37.8 passer rating (ESPN)
Daniels wasn't the only offensive player who struggled, but he carries the can as the team's quarterback and prized possession. The Commanders were just lucky Dallas' offense let them off the hook and their special teams unit endured a torrid first half themselves.
Jayden Daniels' mobility
One of Jayden Daniels' biggest strengths has been negated over the last fortnight. His inability to gain yards on the ground versus the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles caused untold complications. The player looked more like his old self in Week 12 against the Dallas Cowboys.
It wasn't easy, not by any stretch of the imagination. Daniels is a pocket passer first, but he doesn't hesitate to take off when things aren't developing downfield as expected. This was arguably Washington's best way to generate yardage looking at the difficulties being endured in the passing game.
Daniels eventually finished the game with 74 rushing yards and one score on the ground. This is in keeping with what the signal-caller produced before his mini-slump. It was even more vital when one considers Brian Robinson Jr. was dealing with an ankle issue suffered on the first play of the game.
This was a positive development amid the doom and gloom. But the Commanders cannot become overly dependent on Daniels carving up yards on the ground. That's not going to get them to the postseason.