Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has taken the league by storm. Combined with his head coach Dan Quinn, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, and star wide receiver Terry McLaurin, Daniels has put together an excellent season. He is the leading candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year, the second overall pick in last year’s draft also ended a nearly 19-year-long playoff win drought for the Commanders.
Rookie QBs To Win an NFL Playoff Game
- Jayden Daniel, Washington Commanders – 2024
- Total wins: 1
- Final result: Ongoing
- C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans – 2023
- Total wins: 1
- Final result: Lost Divisional Round
- Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers – 2022
- Total Wins: 2
- Final Result: Lost Conference Championship
- John Wolford, Los Angeles Rams – 2020
- Total Wins: 1 (Replaced by Jared Goff due to neck injury)
- Final Result: Lost Divisional Round
- Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks – 2012
- Total Wins: 1
- Final Result: Lost Divisional Round
- T.J. Yates, Houston Texans – 2011
- Total Wins: 1
- Final Result: Lost Divisional Round
- Mark Sanchez, New York Jets – 2009
- Total Wins: 2
- Final Result: Lost Conference Championship
- Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens – 2008
- Total Wins: 2
- Final Result: Lost Conference Championship
- Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers – 2004
- Total Wins: 1
- Final Result: Lost Conference Championship
- Aaron Brooks, New Orleans Saints – 2000
- Total Wins: 1
- Final Result: Lost Divisional Round
- Shaun King, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 1999
- Total Wins: 1
- Final Result: Lost Conference Championship
- Dieter Brock, Los Angeles Rams – 1985*
- Total Wins: 2
- Final Result: Lost Conference Championship
- Pat Haden, Los Angeles Rams – 1976
- Total Wins: 1
- Final Result: Lost Divisional Round
*While technically classified as a rookie, Dieter Brock was actually 34 years old when he made his debut in the NFL. Before then, he played 10 seasons in the Canadian Football League.
Jayden Daniels and Commanders Defeat Buccaneers
The Washington Commanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers fought right down to the wire, but Jayden Daniels and co. came out on top with a last-second field goal to win 23-20.
Entering the game, there had only been five rookie QBs to lead a fourth-quarter comeback in the playoffs, two to do it on the road (Russell Wilson in 2012 at Washington and Mark Sanchez in 2009 at San Diego). Daniels has now etched his name into that record book.
Daniels’ 80.6 (B-) Quarterback+ ranking is third among the six rookies that have made their playoff debuts since 2019. It ranks behind C.J. Stroud’s 94.6 and Brock Purdy’s 89.9. The 80.6 ranks 6th of 16 qualified games played this season for Daniels.
C.J. Stroud’s Postseason Debut Against the Browns
Stroud and DeMeco Ryans became the first rookie QB and rookie head coach to win a division since the NFL/AFL merger in 1970, leading to a Wild Card matchup between the 11-7 Texans and 11-7 Cleveland Browns.
Stroud led Houston to its first playoff win since 2019, blowing out the Browns 45-14. Against the NFL’s top-ranked defense, the rookie quarterback threw for 274 yards, three touchdowns (tying the rookie playoff record), and zero interceptions with a 76.2% completion percentage.
MORE: Has a Rookie QB Ever Won the Super Bowl?
What makes this performance even more impressive is that Stroud sat out most of the fourth quarter since the Texans had such a big lead.
Stroud became the youngest quarterback in NFL history to win a postseason game. Despite it being his playoff debut, he posted the third-highest playoff passer rating of all time (157.2).
Mr. Irrelevant Joins the Exclusive Club
During the 2022 NFL playoffs, Brock Purdy joined this list by leading the San Francisco 49ers past the Seattle Seahawks 41-23 in their Wild Card matchup.
Purdy was the final pick (No. 262) in the 2022 NFL Draft. Eight quarterbacks were drafted before him — including Kenny Pickett at No. 20, Desmond Ridder at No. 74, Malik Willis at No. 86, and Matt Corral at No. 94 — yet Purdy is the only one who’s still starting in the NFL.
Throwing for 332 yards, Purdy once again added his name to the record books by having the most passing yards by a rookie QB in his playoff debut and the second-most by a rookie in the playoffs overall.
Not only that, Purdy actually threw for the third-most passing yards overall in 49ers playoff history, behind only two Joe Montana performances (357 and 347 yards). That is quite the feat considering the legends that the 49ers have had under center.
How Did Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels Fare As a Rookie?
While Denver Broncos rookie Bo Nix couldn’t take down the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round, Daniels was able to get a playoff win. Let’s examine how both rookie QBs performed during their first NFL seasons.
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
- PFN QB+: 75.2 (18th in NFL)
- PFN Grade: C
- PFN Ranking: 18th
- Team Record: 10-7
- 2024 Stats:
- 3,775 passing yards
- 29 passing touchdowns
- 430 rushing yards
- Four rushing touchdowns
Despite a killer senior year at Oregon, Nix was never viewed as a top-five draft pick. For that matter, eyebrows were raised when Denver snatched him up at No. 12, ahead of Brock Bowers, Jared Verse, and Brian Thomas Jr.
But the proof is in the orange-and-blue pudding, as Nix recorded the highest QB+ game score by a rookie since 2019 in Week 18, racking up a QB+ score of 93.7 (A) against the Kansas City Chiefs—his best performance of the season in the Broncos’ playoff-clinching victory.
But Nix looked like he belonged immediately, leading the Broncos to five wins in his first eight games, and ultimately to a surprise postseason berth. He saved his best for last, racking up 321 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and 47 yards on the ground during Sunday’s playoff-clinching win.
While Nix couldn’t lead the Broncos past the Bills in the first round, the future is bright for Denver’s signal-caller.
Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
- PFN QB+: 85.7
- PFN Grade: B
- PFN Ranking: 9
- Team Record: 12-5
- 2024 Stats:
- 3,568 passing yards
- 25 passing touchdowns
- 891 rushing yards
- Six rushing touchdowns
After Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud recorded the eighth-best QB+ score of any quarterback while earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2023, Daniels finished ninth-best in 2024.
Does Daniels have a shot at generationality? To answer that, you have to decide if his primary comparison is generational — Lamar Jackson. After a career season, the Baltimore Ravens superstar is very much in the MVP mix once again. Potentially bringing home his third MVP in 2024, Jackson is one of the league’s era-defining players.
Daniels might be the next-best thing.
Daniels hasn’t yet reached Jackson-esque levels, but if he remains healthy—if he can avoid ailments like the rib injury that slightly derailed the middle of his season—following in Jackson’s footsteps is a semi-realistic trajectory.