The Washington Commanders are riding the Jayden Daniels hype train into Ford Field for a Divisional Round playoff game against the Detroit Lions. It's their toughest challenge so far, but it's one everyone is relishing.
Detroit is the NFC's No. 1 seed for a reason. The Lions went from a laughingstock to a juggernaut under head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes. Their home-field advantage further tips the scales in their favor, so the Commanders have a monumental task on their hands.
Most are anticipating the Lions to see off Washington comfortably. That's not an opinion shared by anyone within Detroit's football operation. They are taking the Commanders' threat — especially that posed by Daniels — extremely seriously.
Campbell lavished praise on Daniels earlier this week. Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn echoed this sentiment after studying the signal-caller on film.
Aaron Glenn highlights what makes Commanders QB Jayden Daniels special
Glenn, who's likely going to be a head coach during this cycle, outlined the one special trait that sets Daniels apart. He likened him to a point guard, displaying a willingness to make everyone around him better. And the Heisman Trophy winner is having a significant amount of fun in the process.
"His demeanor, and how calm he is, it pops out all over the TV copy. Another thing that pops out is he's having fun playing this game, which we all should. You can tell that he's having fun, and there's no better way to play this game when you're in a situation where you're having fun. Obviously, winning has a lot to do with that. But his ability to go make plays — even when he doesn't make plays — he's having fun playing the game. I think that's one of the reasons why he's so successful. He's not taking this for more than what it is. He understands what his skill set is and he's utilizing everybody on that offense to make them better. It's almost like he's trying to be a point guard, and he's just delivering and leading."Aaron Glenn
Lions DC Aaron Glenn talking about Jayden Daniels pic.twitter.com/fCZqNUd4W1
— obvlon (@obvlon) January 15, 2025
This is a pretty good assessment of Daniels. He's savoring every moment. He's playing with a smile on his face whether things are going well or not. The former LSU star is the ultra competitor, always willing to give as good as he gets. And the higher the stakes, the better he performs.
Glenn will have a plan to counteract Daniels' exceptional skill set. He's a defensive mastermind who gets the most out of the playing personnel available. Even missing so many established stars, his unit hasn't skipped a beat.
Daniels will be ready. He's confident, poised, and will relish the prospect of testing his skills against Glenn. Keeping Detroit's offense off the field by controlling the clock is key. The Cajon High School product cannot do it alone, but he'll shoulder the heaviest burden.
This is a fascinating matchup between two of the league's best at their respective crafts. Kliff Kingsbury needs to devise an efficient game plan to get into an early rhythm. He must also react to what Glenn is doing during this game of playoff chess.
After that, it's down to Daniels. The man for the big occasion.