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GLENDALE , Ariz. — When Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels threw the primary interception of his NFL profession in Sunday’s sport towards the Arizona Cardinals, no person felt the necessity to say a lot to him.
His teammates and coaches have been round him lengthy sufficient to know. It is why the Commanders have lengthy felt good concerning the participant they chose second general. They count on him to deal with something that occurs — good or dangerous — in stride.
With Sunday’s 42-14 victory in Arizona, Washington (3-1) has now gained three straight. The Commanders gained huge partly due to Daniels’ penchant for not fretting over a mistake. What occurred subsequent: Daniels led scoring drives on 5 of his subsequent six possessions.
“I wasn’t shocked the best way he bounced again,” mentioned receiver Terry McLaurin, the meant goal on the interception. “He stayed aggressive, he stayed affected person, and he simply continued to command the offense. Not an excessive amount of actually shocked me about him.”
Not a lot has gone fallacious for the Commanders’ offense of late, thanks largely to Daniels’ efficiency within the first 4 video games.
After Sunday’s win, Daniels is finishing 82.1% of his passes, one of the best mark ever by a quarterback after 4 video games. He additionally turned the primary quarterback to finish no less than 85% of his passes in two consecutive video games.
With out meaning to, he additionally sounded a little bit of a warning to the remainder of the league.
“We have nonetheless bought room to develop,” Daniels mentioned. “We’re not a completed product in any respect.”
The identical could possibly be mentioned of Daniels, even after finishing 26-of-30 passes for 233 yards and one landing. He additionally ran eight instances for 47 yards, including his fourth dashing landing of the season. Daniels additionally has three landing passes.
“The child is particular,” tight finish Zach Ertz mentioned.
There might be days when the offense struggles greater than it has in current weeks. The Commanders punted Sunday for the primary time for the reason that season opener, ending a streak of 16 consecutive scoring drives (excluding kneel-down conditions). There might be days when Daniels is contained.
However what this offense has proven is that others round Daniels could make performs. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, the previous Cardinals coach who acquired a sport ball within the boisterous locker room Sunday, has acquired reward from gamers for a way he schemes them open and for the belief he reveals in them.
“Kliff does an ideal job of empowering us,” McLaurin mentioned. “He is aware of we will be an aggressive offense.”
However it’s additionally the chemistry with Daniels and Kingsbury.
“[Daniels] and Kliff are so in sync proper now,” Ertz mentioned. “They’re dialed in. It looks like they have been enjoying collectively within the player-OC relationship for 4, 5, 10 years the best way they’re working proper now.”
Due to that, completely different targets emerge every sport. Receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, for instance, performed 5 snaps and was not focused in Week 3 towards Cincinnati. He caught six passes for 85 yards Sunday. Operating again Jeremy McNichols, filling in for the injured Austin Ekeler, rushed for 68 yards and two touchdowns. That is McNichols’ eleventh franchise; he hadn’t scored within the NFL since 2021.
“It places a number of stress on the protection entering into week in, week out when it’s a must to account for thus many issues,” McLaurin mentioned.
9 completely different Commanders caught a go Sunday. A whole lot of that stems from Daniels’ accuracy and talent to offer the receiver an opportunity to show upfield for extra yards.
“It simply makes everyone’s job round you simpler,” receiver Noah Brown mentioned. “I imply, there’s nothing higher as a large receiver to know: All you bought to do is get open, and in case you get open, the ball’s going to be in the appropriate spot. That makes a world of distinction and everyone within the room has confidence that Jayden can do this, and he goes on the market each Sunday and reveals it.”
However so much goes again to the interception. For one, it revealed to McLaurin one thing they will enhance upon sooner or later. The Cardinals’ two-deep protection took his put up route away, so subsequent time towards that protection, he would possibly alter his route — realizing Daniels will modify his throw as effectively.
The truth that Daniels by no means flinched after the decide revealed one other facet of his sport: He moved on.
“The NFL is at all times concerning the subsequent play,” he mentioned. “You possibly can’t return and repair what occurred prior to now …
“I suppose you possibly can say I sort of bought grasping. … It’s simply, how can we bounce again?”
Washington has talked about his poise and maturity since he arrived within the spring. The Commanders spent final week coaching at Arizona State, the place Daniels started his school profession earlier than transferring to LSU. However he blocked out potential distractions by staying in his room all week and doing what he at all times does: watch movie with teammates.
“I simply thought he dealt with it like an actual G,” Washington coach Dan Quinn mentioned. “Stayed regular throughout when it comes to the preparation.”
Which is why an interception turned out to be an opportunity to point out much more of what he may do.
“The way in which you bounce again to that is mostly a signal of your character,” McLaurin mentioned. “It is thrilling as a result of we all know we will have alternatives to proceed to make performs down the sector. So there’s nothing that basically shocks me about him. The cool factor is to proceed to see him come within the following week and be like, ‘This previous week’s behind us, let’s transfer on to the following week.’ And that is how you actually get higher. That is how you will have an opportunity to be a extremely good participant on this league.”
