The important thing numbers behind QB Jayden Daniels' sizzling begin in Washington

PHOENIX — It has been three video games, however Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has already made an impression on his crew and the NFL.

He has earned a number of participant of the week honors, given a near-perfect efficiency in entrance of a nationwide viewers and instilled hope in a corporation that hasn’t had a lot for a very long time.

“It is superb,” stated veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner. “It is a good begin [but] let him end writing his story for the season … however what he is been in a position to do, his composure, the way in which he dealt with himself from the second he walked in you knew he’d be particular and he is exhibiting it.”

The numbers again up Wagner’s assertion. A key to Washington’s 2-1 report getting into Sunday’s recreation on the Arizona Cardinals (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox) is Daniels’ early-season excellence.

He accomplished 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns whereas dashing for an additional rating in a Monday evening win towards the Cincinnati Bengals. He was named the NFL’s Offensive Participant of the Week, two weeks after being named the offensive rookie of the week.

Two days after his breakout second in Cincinnati, he was unfazed.

“It is one other recreation,” Daniels stated. “That recreation’s prior to now, do not even imply nothing no extra.”

A have a look at his numbers over these first three video games reveals his season thus far isn’t just one other begin to a season by a rookie, nonetheless.

Listed below are the stats behind Daniels’ spectacular NFL begin.

Daniels is the one participant since no less than 1970 to run for 3 touchdowns, go for 2 extra and throw zero interceptions in his first three video games.

This encompasses what Daniels has supplied thus far: a very good arm, sturdy decision-making and the flexibility to run. Each landing passes got here Monday towards the Bengals, together with a 27-yarder within the fourth quarter towards an all-out blitz. He was leveled by a free rusher on the play however threw an ideal go to receiver Terry McLaurin in the long run zone to seal the 38-33 victory.

Chatting with reporters Wednesday, coach Dan Quinn stated he was “pleased with the decision-making, the method he is going via.

“He is laborious to defend due to his legs. He can get outdoors the pocket. There is a twin risk.”

Daniels has thrown 90 passes with out an interception to start his profession.

That is spectacular however he is not even midway to the report set final season by Houston’s C.J. Stroud, who tried 192 passes earlier than he was intercepted in Week 6. Dallas’ Dak Prescott beforehand held the report at 176, having damaged Tom Brady’s mark of 162.

Daniels has accomplished 80.3% of his go makes an attempt, which leads the NFL.

It helps that 36.8% of his throws are at or behind the road of scrimmage. However, for context, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes ranks second within the NFL behind Green Bay Packers QB Malik Willis on this space at 39.1%.

Prescott set the NFL report for rookie completion share (67.6) in 2016, rating 14th in air yards per try.

“Whenever you’re in the long run of the sport to have a very good likelihood to win it,” Quinn stated of Daniels, who has led Washington to a rating within the ultimate possession of every recreation, excluding a kneel down towards the Bengals, “and you might be smiling as a result of you understand you are prepared and you have been in that area, that is one of many issues that I really like about him.”

Daniels ranks thirteenth in whole QBR at 67.9.

His QBR ranking of 92.5 towards the Bengals is the sixth greatest by a Washington quarterback since 2015.

The Commanders have had solely 9 video games within the earlier 5 seasons mixed the place a quarterback has completed with a ranking that top. From 2018-23, Washington’s QBR for the season was by no means increased than 45.7. The final time the franchise completed with a QBR of 60 or higher was in 2016, when Kirk Cousins began each recreation. That is additionally the final time they completed with a profitable report.

Daniels has accomplished 40.8% of his passes for first downs, fifth within the NFL.

Since 2000, the best share of first downs per go try by a rookie quarterback is 44.1% by Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger in 2004. Stroud accomplished 37.7% of his passes for first downs final season, ending tenth within the NFL.

Just one participant ranks within the prime 5 in first downs per run amongst certified rushers in addition to first downs per go try: Daniels. He trails solely Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson (40.0%) by one half of a share level in first downs per rush. Jackson ranks eighth in first downs per go try at 36.7%.

There’s room for progress by Daniels as Quinn has identified — holding his eyes upfield when he scrambles, hitting extra massive performs downfield. However the Commanders are assured these performs will happen extra usually, as he turns into extra snug and continues to develop.

“He’s nonetheless rising,” Quinn stated. “I can not wait to see who he is changing into.”