Jayden Daniels' rookie campaign has been nothing short of sensational. The Washington Commanders have the right man to lead their prosperous new era. But he wasn't going to settle despite the ongoing adulation.
Daniels is highly competitive. He wants to be the best and is dragging his teammates along for the ride. His superb effort during Washington's triumph at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was another display of flawless poise and composure with the primetime spotlight glaring.
This propelled Daniels into the elite conversation amid one of the greatest first pro seasons of any quarterback in NFL history. But for the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 draft, it was just another day at the office and onto the next challenge.
Next up for Daniels was the Detroit Lions — the No. 1 seed in the NFC in one of the league's most hostile environments. The Commanders were heavy underdogs for the contest, but confidence was high in the building. And with the former LSU star under center, they always have a chance.
Daniels' calmness in the playoff chaos was needed in the face of stern opposition. As it turned out, the rookie phenom rose to the occasion once again to secure yet another major upset and put the Commanders within one game of the Super Bowl.
With this in mind, here are five major observations from Daniels' playoff performance at the Lions.
Major observations from Jayden Daniels' performance at the Lions
Jayden Daniels' poise
Nothing phases Jayden Daniels.
Nothing.
Ford Field is one of the loudest, most hostile playoff environments the NFL has to offer. As has been the case throughout the season, Daniels didn't flinch.
This was just another day at the office for the Cajon High School product. He took the crowd out of the equation with his customary poise and precision. Not every throw came off, but he shrugged off the good plays or the bad and moved on to the next one quickly.
The signal-caller moves like a savvy veteran. Daniels' calm demeanor almost defies logic. The bigger the stage, the more he excels. That's a trait very few quarterbacks around the league possess — rookie or otherwise.
More importantly, it's something his teammates rally behind. If the man occupying football's most important position stays calm in the pressure cooker, they must also display the same relentless mindset and ability to keep cool.
It also let the Lions know they were in a game. Daniels' composure and ability to place supreme trust in what got him this far was the primary catalyst.