5 winners (and 2 losers) from Commanders' playoff-clinching triumph vs. Falcons

Winner No. 3

Zach Ertz - Commanders TE

As previously mentioned, it was difficult for wide receiver Terry McLaurin to firmly establish himself on Sunday Night Football. That's no disgrace considering Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell is one of the league's best shutdown cornerbacks when firing on all cylinders, but it forced the Washington Commanders to go elsewhere in critical moments.

Jayden Daniels had one guy in mind. When it was time to push the chips into the middle, the rookie signal-caller looked to veteran tight end Zach Ertz. As has been the case throughout the three-time Pro Bowler's career, he answered the call.

Ertz's experience came to the fore positively. He's been involved in plenty of high-profile games throughout his career. This served him well en route to an influential display that played a significant role in Washington's eventual triumph.

The former second-round selection out of Stanford brought in six receptions from seven targets for 72 receiving yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score in overtime. Ertz also managed to hit some sizable bonuses in his contract, which is a win-win for everybody.

Winner No. 4

Jayden Daniels - Commanders QB

It's hard to put into words just how big of an impact Jayden Daniels has had on the Commanders franchise. Perhaps the biggest compliment one could pay the rookie quarterback is how calm everything appeared in the highest-pressure situation imaginable.

There's supreme confidence in Daniels. From the players to the coaches and fans, everyone had complete faith that the signal-caller would come through when it counted. No moment is too big, which is remarkable for someone in Year 1 of their NFL journey.

Daniels took the game over in the second half. He relaxed a little bit and relied on the elite-level athletic traits that got him this far. His poise, composure, and accuracy in critical moments were astonishing. The Atlanta Falcons had no answer in their pursuit of containing the Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU.

When the Commanders won the overtime toss, that was the window of opportunity Daniels needed to seal the deal. He did so with aplomb, carving up yards on the ground and finding Zach Ertz for the final score.

This was the latest in a series of truly astonishing performances from Daniels. His will to drag the Commanders through rough waters and into the postseason is rare for someone so young. And this sleeping giant is going to benefit for years to come.