Star black quarterbacks are no longer the exception, but the rule. Throughout the football season, this series explores the prominence and impact of Black quarterbacks from the grassroots level to the NFL.
TAMPA, Fla. – Whenever quarterback Jaeden Daniels’ sensational rookie season finally comes to an end, the Washington Commanders and their fans will have a lot to look back on fondly.
Unfortunately for the rest of the NFL, the curtain has not yet come down.
During the NFC’s wild-card playoff round on Sunday night, Daniels shined again in visiting Washington’s 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This was the Commanders’ first postseason win since 2006.
Daniels displayed a rare combination of talent and grit that breathed new life into Washington and its once-sluggish fan base, covering 51 yards in 10 plays late in the fourth quarter and systematically leading his team. I moved it. Placekicker Zane Gonzalez clinched the victory with a 37-yard field goal as time expired, but the ball hit the inside of the right goal post and went over the crossbar, leaving the manager and Raymond James Stadium dead. The supporters froze for a moment.
On the climactic drive, Daniels made a key play both passing and running (with only 55 seconds to play, he gained four yards on a scheduled run on third-and-two, setting up the game-clinching kick). ), took the lead. Commanders to division rounds. The top-seeded Detroit Lions will play No. 6 seed Washington on Saturday.
After a raucous behind-closed-doors celebration in the visitors’ dressing room, managers agreed on the man who played the biggest role in ending a long winter.
“This is what he’s been doing all season,” All-Pro wide receiver Terry McLaurin said of Daniels. “To see Jaden continue to lead us to the right calls, he has to do what (offensive play-caller Kliff Kingsbury) asks him to do, show poise, and, you know, complete command of the game, complete command of the huddle. Just being in complete command…I’m lucky to be able to play with him and see how much he’s grown this year. That’s him. He is endowed with incredible abilities. But his ability to prepare for upcoming moments is definitely special. ”
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There’s good reason why coaches are hoping for late-game heroics from Daniels. He’s had so many signature moments that it’s hard to rank them, likely leading him to be named the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Indeed, most Commanders fans will point to Daniels’ desperate 52-yard pass to Noah Brown as time expired in Week 8’s 18-15 win over the visiting Chicago Bears. Then, in Week 17, Daniels was magical until the end, defeating the visiting Atlanta Falcons 30-24 in overtime.
Of course, the NFL postseason is much different than the regular season. Not everyone can handle pressure. This is especially true for many people in the most important positions in sports. But Daniels’ performance in the regular season gave managers a clue as to what to expect from him on the biggest stage.
Usually he did not disappoint.
Returning to the stadium where he made his career debut in Week 1 (the Coaches lost 37-20), Daniels completed 24 passes on 35 attempts for 268 passing yards and a touchdown. He had two passes and no interceptions. He had an excellent passer rating of 110.2 and led the managers with 36 yards rushing.
After the Buccaneers tied the game at 20-all with a field goal, the Commanders returned the ball to their own 30-yard line with 4:41 to play for the fourth time.
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“I didn’t need to say anything,” he said, leading the team with 89 receiving yards on seven receptions and teaming up with Daniels for a 5-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter to put Washington up 20-17. said McLoughlin, who helped lead the way.
“We just looked each other in the eye and were like, ‘They don’t get the ball back.’ You know what I’m saying? Once we finish the game with the ball in our hands, it’s our turn. It’s my turn.”
On a third-and-6 from the 34-yard line early in the drive, Daniels connected with Brown for 21 yards on a deep pass up the middle. His third-down run in the second half was clutch.
“Cliff called my number” on a scheduled third-down run, Daniels said. “Basically, before (that play), I said to him, ‘Hey. You can put the ball in my hand. ” ”
You know what we call relying on Daniels? Great coaching.
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Commander left guard Nick Allegretti and right tackle Andrew Wylie have seen this kind of scene before. Before joining the Commanders, they won a Super Bowl while blocking for another promising quarterback, Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs.
“Comparing myself to Pat…is something I don’t want to do yet,” Allegretti said. “He’s different.
“But when you look at Jay’s play in the fourth quarter when the game is on the line, (or) on fourth down… he just has that playmaking ability that (some) quarterbacks have. He gives you confidence that if you do your job, if you give him the time (to pass), if you give him the lanes he needs (to run), he’s going to make the play. . And that’s great.”
Wiley is keeping pace with Allegretti.
“When you see guys like that in those moments of victory, you know they’re giving 100 percent to win no matter what,” Wiley said. “Jaden has that dog. He has the mind of a killer I’ve seen before.”
Coaches are watching the progress of a great young quarterback. In his first season, he is already one of the best players in the game. And what a sight for a series that has wandered aimlessly in the desert for decades.
