5 winners (and 2 losers) from Commanders' win at the Cardinals in Week 4

Winner No. 3

Jayden Daniels - Commanders QB

It's hard to find new superlatives for Jayden Daniels. The rookie quarterback continued his historic start to the campaign in Week 4 at the Arizona Cardinals, turning in another high-quality performance to spearhead an outstanding road victory.

This is no flash in the pan. Daniels is the real deal.

He wasn't flawless, throwing his first interception as an NFL pro. But it was pretty close. Daniels was exceptional, displaying the poise, accuracy, and pocket presence normally associated with savvy veterans rather than those looking to make their way in the league. His fourth-quarter drive that concluded with a Terry McLaurin touchdown was proof the Washington Commanders have a genuine superstar on their hands.

Daniels is playing with a swagger and confidence that is inspiring the entire franchise. From the players to the coaches and fans, the Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU is dragging this storied organization up from the proverbial abyss and back to respectability. General manager Adam Peters has to be feeling pretty good about his choice at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft that's for sure. And he's just getting started.

The Commanders have a franchise quarterback at long last. That feels good to say.

Winner No. 4

Commanders defense

The Commanders' defense didn't start well. Their first-quarter efforts looked more of the same and fans were wondering if this was going to be another shootout in pursuit of victory. But whatever defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and his staff said to them after that worked like a charm.

This was a completely different unit for the remainder of the contest. The Commanders were energized, explosive, and accomplished. It seemed like the light finally came on as a unit, which was arguably the biggest positive above all else based on how things unfolded over the opening three games of the campaign.

The standard has now been set. Washington's tone-setters showed up, with the likes of Frankie Luvu, Bobby Wagner, Jeremy Chinn, and Dorance Armstrong Jr. flying around the field. Praise must also be given to the cornerbacks, who held the Cardinals in check for the most part after struggling to find their feet to begin the season.

If the Commanders want to meet some ever-increasing expectations, they need everyone firing on all cylinders. It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but this was a definite step in the right direction.