5 major observations from Jayden Daniels' playoff performance at the Eagles

How did Jayden Daniels fare in the NFC Championship game?
ByDean Jones|
Jayden Daniels
Jayden Daniels | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
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Jayden Daniels put together the greatest season of any rookie quarterback in NFL history. But as the signal-caller stated throughout his memorable journey, the next challenge is all that matters.

This attitude got the Washington Commanders further than even the brightest optimist envisaged. They defied the odds to make the postseason with 12 regular-season wins. That wasn't enough, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions to book their place in the NFC Championship game.

Daniels is a big reason why. His flawless poise, unflappable demeanor, and ability to come through in the most crucial moments picked this sleeping giant off the canvas and into contention. Standing in the way of his NFL immortality was the Philadelphia Eagles.

The former LSU standout knows this foe well. He's played twice against them already this season. Daniels' first game versus Philadelphia didn't go well thanks to injury. He put this right with a standout showing to lead a stunning fightback in Week 16.

The stakes don't get much higher than this. But make no mistake, Daniels is ready for the moment. He's proven it on countless occasions this season. This was his sternest test, which was made more difficult without the presence of prolific right guard Sam Cosmi. Handling the heat was essential.

As it turned out, this was a step too far for the Commanders and Daniels. They were soundly beaten by a dominant Eagles team. Sloppy errors didn't help, but Washington can have no complaints when it's all said and done.

With this in mind, here are five major observations from Daniels' playoff performance at Lincoln Financial Field.

Major observations from Jayden Daniels' playoff performance at the Eagles

Jayden Daniels' pre-snap control

Jayden Daniels looked to take the sting out of this game. To do this, the signal-caller set about controlling the clock through minimal risks and sound pre-snap recognition.

Considering this was an intimidating environment, Daniels didn't flinch. He was in complete control of proceedings, identifying where pressure was coming from and making sure everyone was aware of their assignments. This is in keeping with his polished performances throughout a phenomenal rookie campaign.

Daniels controlled proceedings like a savvy veteran. This comes through exceptional preparation during the week and the mentality to ignore the outside noise. The Commanders had a lot of problems at Lincoln Financial Field, but this steady hand was a huge positive to build upon.

It settled everybody down. The Commanders were behind early on, but the process never changed. It was another fine example of the outstanding credentials Daniels brings to the table — an unflappable presence under center that others willingly follow into battle.

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