Ravens veteran lays down the gauntlet to Jayden Daniels with resolute claim

Jayden Daniels is under no illusions heading into his crunch showdown with the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6. This is the sternest test he's faced so far by a considerable margin. The No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft comes into the game brimming with confidence, but it's hard to say which way this one is going to go.

The Washington Commanders are the league's surprise package through five weeks. They are playing with house money following a sensational 4-1 start that has fans believing a postseason berth could be in their immediate future if things continue so encouragingly. Daniels will be at the forefront with an electrifying playing style and understated ruthlessness that's hard not to love.

Baltimore won't be making things easy for Daniels that's for sure. They have the league's best run defense and can be almost unstoppable once early momentum is generated. This might be a shootout despite the improvements made defensively in recent weeks. It's also the sort of high-pressure situation the former LSU star relishes.

Roquan Smith is relishing the prospect of thwarting Jayden Daniels and the Commanders

The Ravens are confident they can give Daniels all he can handle. All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith laid down the gauntlet to the Heisman Trophy winner in no uncertain terms, stating his unit will embrace the challenge and provide the signal-caller with a standard he's not seen previously in the pros.

"When he’s in the open field, he’s a dangerous guy to tackle, but we love challenges. He’s still a rookie at the end of the day, and he hasn’t seen a defense like ours just yet."

- Roquan Smith via X

This is good bulletin board material, not like Daniels needs it. Smith is right in the fact he's a rookie. What he failed to point out is the Cajon High School product doesn't carry himself like one.

Daniels has an old head on young shoulders stemming from so many starts at the college level. His maturity and poise under center have been a revelation. It's also got teammates onside quickly, rallying around the quarterback and supporting him fully on what's quickly becoming a rapid rise to genuine superstardom.

Whether these comments from Smith give Daniels some extra motivation is anyone's guess. He knows how good the Ravens can be. At the same time, they are vulnerable. This is something the first-year pro will look to exploit en route to a monumental road win for the Commanders - one that would surge them into potential Super Bowl consideration in the media.

That's a little premature even if the Commanders do triumph. This was always going to be a gradual process. They're probably further ahead than even those in power within the building anticipated, but we'll find out much more about their credentials this weekend.

Daniels isn't one to shirk a challenge. He embraces competition fully and wants to test himself against the elite. The brighter the spotlight, the better he seems to perform. That's something the Commanders can hang their hat on at M&T Bank Stadium.

Everyone must play their part, but Daniels will ultimately determine Washington's fate. After all, this is a quarterback-driven league for a reason.

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