Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels polished his resume to be taken as the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft with a Heisman Trophy campaign at LSU, but The Valley will never forget where he started: Arizona State.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Sun Devils top-signing in the Class of 2019, Daniels played three seasons for ASU before moving onto the Tigers in wake of the infamous Herm Edwards debacle. No matter who he is playing for, Daniels always shows up. The likely NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year did it again in his first professional playoff game.
Daniels led the Commanders to a 23-20 NFC Wildcard win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. It was Washington’s first playoff win since 2006.
MOVING ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/1ju46kglUk
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 13, 2025
First playoff win for 5️⃣@JayD__5 | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/iKcJfimjkv
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 13, 2025
In his NFL playoff debut, the rookie completed 24-35 passes (68.6%) for 268 yards and two touchdowns. He also led Washington with 36 yards for 13 yards on the ground.
Daniels found wide receiver Dyami Brown for a 10-yard score in the middle of the second quarter for the first touchdown of the game. After the Commanders failed to find the end zone for almost exactly two quarters, Washington’s QB went to his top target, wide receiver Terry McLaurin, for a five-yard touchdown to give Washington a 20-17 lead with less than 10 minutes to play.
.@deuce2_ GETS US ON THE BOARD
???? #WASvsTB @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/4XqCkEqnzn
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 13, 2025
PEEKABOOOOOOO ????
???? #WASvsTB @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/M5JNCesPwi
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 13, 2025
Tampa Bay would tie the game with a 32-yard, kicker Chase McLaughlin field goal with 4:41 left to play.
It was too much time for the fearless rookie.
Daniels led a 10-play drive to the final seconds of the game, positioning Washington kicker Zane Gonzales — who also played at Arizona State from 2013-2016 — for a 37-yard game-winner. Gonzales had already knocked down kicks of 52 and 22 yards during the game, so a 37-yarder seemed like a no-brainer; however, Gonzales made the entire stadium hold its breath, pushing the kick to the right, doinking the ball off the goal post between the uprights to take the game. Daniels completed all three of his passes for 44 yards and added a four-yard run that was cancelled out by a strategic quarterback kneel to position his team to win.
DOINKED IT IN FOR THE DUB!!!!!
???? #WASvsTB @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/3WvqkokVMV
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 13, 2025
Daniels led the Commanders to their first playoff win since 2006. The last playoff win 19 seasons ago was also against the Buccaneers in the wildcard round. This is Washington’s first time making the playoffs since 2020.
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Reporter Jordyn Bennett covers the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona State, Phoenix area sports and sports related topics. You can follow him on his X account, @j_bennett_live
