Jayden Daniels' first half
Jayden Daniels was always going to need a little time to find his groove. One could forgive the quarterback for having some lingering inner doubt, though he's a pretty resolute character overall. And even though the conditions were less than ideal to move the chains, it was a solid if unspectacular first half from the signal-caller.
The Washington Commanders were in complete control. If they hadn't been called for so many offensive penalties and converted some of their red-zone chances into touchdowns, they would have been out of sight.
Sadly, that wasn't the case, but Daniels kept things ticking over well enough.
There were a couple of throws that Daniels would like to have back, and he had to get the football out quickly with left tackle Brandon Coleman struggling on the blindside. He did that with conviction, and despite the lack of legitimate highlights, his overall command was encouraging.
This showed up in Daniels' first-half stats, which helped the Commanders build a nine-point cushion into the break.
- 54.55 percent completion (6/15)
- 85 passing yards
- 0 touchdowns
- 0 interceptions
- 2 sacks against
- 14 rushing yards (5 carries)
- 79.7 passer rating (ESPN)
It was a step-by-step process. But the most important thing was that he came through unscathed.
The Jayden Daniels-Chig Okonkwo connection
The Commanders didn't have Stefon Diggs available, and Terry McLaurin was on a snap count despite being healthy enough to suit up after a hamstring problem. That meant Jayden Daniels had to find another strong connection, and tight end Chig Okonkwo was the guy.
Okonkwo's been a proverbial bystander by the numbers through two games, and he's spent the other two on the shelf. The Commanders wanted more from the Maryland product in this one, and Daniels got the chance to test the connection himself.
The results were pleasing.
Daniels' timing when throwing to Okonkwo caught the eye almost immediately. Offensive coordinator David Blough schemed the dynamic tight end open well, and the quarterback knew how to put his teammate in the best positions to make plays after the catch.
Considering how important Zach Ertz was to Daniels' immediate surge, having a productive tight end changes everything. There is a long way to go, and consistency remains the biggest stumbling block, but if this is the start of things to come, the Commanders' offense will be in good shape.
This was the security blanket Daniels needed during his first game back. And this could be a highly profitable partnership if both stay healthy from here on.
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