The Undeniable Reason Commanders' Jayden Daniels Shines Late in Games
From the earliest stages of his rookie season, Jayden Daniels showed the Washington Commanders they had something special at the quarterback position.
Eighteen games into his NFL career, it’s clear that whatever the Commanders originally thought they had turned out even better.
But why has Daniels been so good in the final stages of football games? The answer comes from his faith. That’s a loaded answer, right? But follow me for a moment.
Daniels’ late-game numbers don’t match his rookie status. In the fourth quarter of regular season games, Daniels completed 71% of his passes for 1,111 yards with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. In his lone overtime appearance he connected on all five attempts, including the game-winner to Zach Ertz that secured a playoff berth for the Commanders.
And in the 23-20 last-second Wild Card playoff win over Tampa Bay, Daniels went 3 for 3 on the final drive for 44 yards. He also authored a four-yard run on third-and-two that allowed the Commanders to run out all but two seconds of the clock and set up Zane Gonzalez for a game-winning field goal.
So how does Daniels prove so unflappable in the biggest of moments in big games? These are things people expected from Tom Brady. Nobody is shocked when Patrick Mahomes does it.
But Daniels is a rookie. Sure, he’s been blessed with loads of talent. But talent isn’t always the deciding factor in games.
For Daniels, it’s a faith journey. He stays calm in key situations because his faith rules his walk.
“I don’t worry about things I can’t control,” Daniels said toward the end of his senior season at LSU. “There’s some stuff where it’s just human nature to have anxiety. You get nervous about it because you don’t know what the outcome is going to be. You can’t predict the unpredictable. So, as I mature, grow up more, and dive deeper into my faith, I just know that it’s God’s plan with everything.
“As much as I want to rush stuff, I can’t. What’s there for me and what’s meant for me, God’s always going to provide that. With everything that’s going on right now, God has prepared me for this. He doesn’t give anything to anybody that He knows they can’t handle. To whom much is given, much is required.”
In other words, faith rises above the situation. Against the Eagles game on Dec. 22, Daniels made a big mistake in the fourth quarter. A bad interception put the Eagles in a position to clinch the victory. However, a dropped pass gave Daniels a second chance. Daniels led his team down the field and threw a game-winning touchdown to Jamison Crowder.
So it’s not about always having success in key moments. But if a player believes God is in control of his life, he knows the good — and the bad — will happen in a way that turns out for good. It’s not about wins or losses. And that’s why Daniels can perform better in these moments. It’s because he’s not carrying the weight of the franchise, fans, or teammates. He knows God has all of those things in hand.
This doesn’t mean the Commanders will win the Super Bowl this year. Daniels could have a poor game Saturday against the Detroit Lions. Or he might make a key mistake late in the game. But if he does, he will know — as Christians know — that God has a plan. The Lord works all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
Daniels said he’s enjoying the ride of the 2024 season, according to nfl.com.
"I don't know, I can't really explain it, obviously I'm grateful to have the opportunity," Daniels said after his team defeated the Buccaneers. "I'm happy for the fanbase and franchise, everything it's been through, to get to this point, so I'm just grateful and happy for everybody, including myself."
