Jayden Daniels has had a rookie season one could have only dreamt of. He led the Washington Commanders to a 12-5 record and made the playoffs. They then defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card Round and have now pulled off arguably the biggest upset in recent seasons.
Daniels led the Commanders to a stunning 45-31 win over the Detroit Lions, knocking the NFC’s first seed out of the playoffs. The Lions were a huge favorite coming into this game, and their Super Bowl aspirations were ended by a rookie quarterback who plays like he has been in the NFL for several years.
Fans Praise Jayden Daniels After Commanders’ Win vs. Lions
In the win against the Lions, Daniels threw for 299 yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers, completing 70.9% of his throws with a passer rating of 122.9. He also rushed for 51 yards on 16 carries and showed composure throughout the game as his team going 3-of-4 on fourth downs was the biggest reason behind their win.
Daniels was rightly praised on social media by the fans, with many claiming him to be the best quarterback in the NFC, gaining comparisons with other elite quarterbacks along the way.
It’s safe to say the Bears picked the wrong QB https://t.co/biwKeFys1h
— Penguin Man (@SadPackersFan) January 19, 2025
“Jayden Daniels is already better than Lamar Jackson,” said one fan.
“Imagine drafting Caleb Williams over him,” wrote another fan.
ALREADY HAS AS MANY PLAYOFF WINS AS DAK PRESCOTT
— Dallas Nation (@TheDallasNation) January 19, 2025
“Jayden Daniels has the same amount of conference championship appearances as Josh Allen and Lamar,” said one fan, showing the astonishing feat the Commanders star has already achieved in his rookie season.
“Jayden Daniels is easily the best rookie QB I’ve ever seen,” said another fan.
All this with bottom 10 skill weapons around him
Monster. https://t.co/r8DC73YVUG— Dairy Doug (@MustachdMilkman) January 19, 2025
The Bears drafted Caleb Williams as the first overall pick, allowing the Commanders to draft Daniels as the second overall pick. This decision has completely changed the franchise, and they will now play their first NFC Championship Game since 1992.
As of now, he might not be better than Jackson, but he has the potential to one day become a better player than the Ravens quarterback considering Daniels is still a rookie. He is not as explosive with his legs as the two-time NFL MVP, but his passing game is comparable to Jackson’s and will likely continue to get better.
The Commanders will face the winner of the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams next week, and the NFC East team will like their chances against anyone.
Daniels’ Ascension Is Good for the NFC
Daniels having a phenomenal rookie season and emerging as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL is good for the NFC. The AFC is stacked with talented quarterbacks like Jackson, Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and C.J. Stroud, so the other conference should also have some elite quarterbacks.
Daniels might already be the best quarterback in his conference, but the likes of other young quarterbacks like Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts, and even Williams can also give him tough competition.
Both conferences need some balance, but as of now, the AFC has by far the better quality of quarterbacks. The NFC needs to have players like Daniels, as the Commanders’ rookie has succeeded without having elite players around him, unlike other quarterbacks in the conference.
Quarterbacks like Mahomes, Allen, and Jackson have already proved they can turn into Superman when required to lead their teams to win, and Daniels did the same against the Lions. It is now important for the Commanders to surround their superstar quarterback with talent next season and make the most of the opportunity.
