It felt just like the Washington Commanders had been wandering the desert for the final decade.
However because the outdated saying goes, even a damaged clock is true twice a day, and the Commanders struck gold by drafting Jayden Daniels.
The Commanders, underneath new proprietor Josh Harris, have been unwilling to maneuver the No. 2 general decide within the 2024 NFL Draft. They have been steadfast on deciding on Daniels, the dual-threat quarterback that had simply gained the Heisman at LSU. He was instantly named Washington’s beginning quarterback.
With out school teammate Malik Nabers, who’s already doing large issues for the New York Giants, skeptics puzzled how Daniels would fare in a company identified for failing quarterbacks.
However Daniels proved on Monday Night time Soccer that he’s lower from a distinct material. In a showdown in opposition to fellow LSU Heisman Joe Burrow, Daniels and the Commanders exploded for 38 factors. Daniels had extra touchdowns (three) than interceptions (two). Washington despatched the Cincinnati Bengals to 0-3 by defeating them 38-33.
He threw for 254 yards and a pair of touchdowns whereas speeding for 39 yards and a landing.
On an enormous fourth down with lower than 5 minutes to go within the recreation, Daniels satisfied new Commanders head coach Dan Quinn to go for it. Daniels knew that yet another first down would all however seal the victory for Washington.
Quinn trusted his rookie quarterback, who threw a strike to tight finish Zach Ertz for a primary down and would go on to seal the large primetime victory for the Commanders.
Washington is 2-1 with consecutive victories in opposition to the Bengals and Giants. Their lone defeat got here within the opener in opposition to Baker Mayfield’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It’s exhausting to win video games within the NFL. That’s a reality. It’s even tougher when you’ve got a 23-year-old rookie quarterback and a model new teaching employees. At 2-1, no one exterior of diehard D.C. followers is proclaiming that the Commanders will win the NFC East.
However in a considerably suspect NFC, if Daniels stays scorching, maybe they’ll make a playoff run.
Expectations are a scary factor. It’s uncomfortable to place a timeline on what success might appear to be. No matter how the season finally ends up from a file perspective, the long run is shiny in Washington. It actually appeared like a star was born proper in entrance of our eyes on Monday Night time Soccer.
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury would possibly’ve discovered his match within the NFL. Whereas it solely took six years, Washington would possibly’ve lastly discovered a reliable quarterback to get the ball to Terry McLaurin, who in some way has 4 straight seasons over 1,000 yards receiving.
Lengthy gone are the times of Sam Howell, Carson Wentz, Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen. Washington has a solution at quarterback.
