Jayden Daniels' decent first half showing
The Washington Commanders were overwhelmed in the first half. Some questionable officiating and silly mistakes ended up being their undoing en route to a heavy deficit. But rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was once again a shining light amid the relative doom and gloom.
It wasn't perfect from Daniels, far from it. He missed some throws and was lucky not to have one picked off. The Commanders' inability to finish drives with touchdowns despite controlling the clock was something else that held them back.
Overall, Daniels was way down the list of Washington's problems. He made some crucial throws when needed, put his elusiveness and pocket manipulation to good use, and kept Philadelphia's vaunted defense on their toes. If others had met their end of the bargain, the Commanders wouldn't have found themselves in such a mess.
This decent effort was reflected in Daniels' first-half stats. It also became obvious that he'd need to take this game over for Washington to stand any chance of mounting a fightback.
- 62.5 percent completion
- 139 passing yards
- 1 passing touchdown
- 0 interceptions
- 1 sack against
- 31 rushing yards (4 carries)
- 92.2 passer rating (ESPN)
Daniels protected the football and was efficient. Unfortunately, his teammates couldn't say the same during an uncharacteristic display.
Jayden Daniels' will to inspire
The Commanders had their backs against the wall almost from the outset. But with Jayden Daniels' exceptional will leading the charge, this team never accepts their fate.
Even when the Commanders had a 34-15 advantage, Daniels refused to throw in the towel. He's made of much sterner stuff than that, taking matters into his own hands and giving the Eagles plenty to think about.
There is intensity and urgency in equal measure where Daniels is concerned. He's not the most flamboyant, preferring to go about his business methodically with a quiet aura that his teammates naturally gravitate towards. Mounting this sort of fightback was almost impossible, but the dual-threat weapon tried valiantly nonetheless.
Daniels never shirks a challenge. He drives his team forward no matter the circumstance. Washington's inability to stop the Eagles made things almost impossible to overcome, but having someone so determined is only going to help the Commanders build on this superb early success in the coming years.
The Eagles, and the entire league for that matter, know they're going to have their work cut out containing Daniels. His relentless pursuit of greatness and will to inspire is a joy to watch — something that's only going to improve further once Washington upgrades its supporting cast.