Jayden Daniels tracker: A career-high three TD passes against the Titans

Daniels, who grew up in Southern California and rarely played in sub-50-degree temperatures in college, threw three touchdown passes for the first time in an NFL game, appearing unfazed by the 41-degree conditions at kickoff. Daniels finished with 206 passing yards, those three touchdowns, one interception and a 114.7 passer rating and also ran for a score as Washington reached the end zone on each of its first four possessions.

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What we wrote

“Daniels, who rarely looks panicked under pressure, created two gaffes in the third quarter by throwing high to Zach Ertz, his leaping, 6-foot-5 target, which ended as an interception, and later fumbling when under pressure. Daniels completed 25 of 30 passes, threw for three scores and ran for another, so the mention of his two mistakes might feel like searching for smudges on a work of art.” — Candace Buckner

What he said

“Obviously, winning always makes everything better.

Daniels again struggled for much of the day against Dallas. A wild fourth quarter rally at least made his numbers look respectable; he finished 25 of 38 for 275 yards, two touchdown passes, one rushing touchdown, two interceptions (including one on a last-second Hail Mary) and a modest 82.7 passer rating. His 86-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin in the final minute might have tied the score, if not for a missed extra point.

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What we wrote

“Remember those high-flying times when Daniels, the rookie sensation, possessed the highest completion rate in the league and coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offense casually dropped 35 points a game? Yeah, neither do the Commanders. They’ve been in a funk and remained there through Sunday’s first half, posting only three points against a struggling Cowboys defense.” — Candace Buckner

“Don’t let Washington’s final, gaudy totals — 412 yards, a passable 26 points — distract from what is actually happening. The offense, so explosive in the early part of the season, has lost its fuse. Sunday, it found a match too late. What’s going on?” — Barry Svrluga

“While the quarterback had moments against the Cowboys, especially late in the game, he and the passing game had one of their worst performances of the year. The problem, Daniels said, was the team got behind the chains, which created lots of third and longs. ‘ “We’ve just gotta be better on first and second downs and stay ahead of the chains,’ Daniels said.” — Sam Fortier

What he said

“I just know we didn’t capitalize on opportunities of scoring touchdowns when we had those opportunities present themselves.

Daniels again appeared a shell of himself on a night that raised more questions about his health. He finished 22 for 32 passing for 191 yards with one touchdown and one interception, good for an 81.6 passer rating. He ran for only 18 yards and took three sacks. His right hand was left mangled and bleeding from a new injury, while his left ribs were still bruised from a hit he suffered weeks earlier.

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What we wrote

“These two losses in a row, to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia teams that are a combined 15-4, don’t represent a complete collapse. Not close. But there are scratches in the armor, and that’s across the board. It includes Jayden Daniels, the star quarterback who sure looks like someone who could use a breather.” — Barry Svrluga

“The loss cost Washington (7-4) the NFC East lead and put it in a tricky position as it pushes for a playoff spot over the final six games. … More concerning: The defeat left Daniels even more injured and limited than he had appeared in recent weeks. When asked about the cut on his right hand, Daniels brushed it off.” — Nicki Jhabvala

“By many traditional and advanced metrics, the Eagles’ loss was Daniels’s worst game as a pro. It wasn’t just that he didn’t shine in some areas where he’s excelled all year — against the blitz, while scrambling, under pressure and with the deep ball. It was that he sometimes struggled with the basics.” — Sam Fortier

What he said

“I’m straight. Just got a little cut.

On a mistake-filled afternoon, Daniels completed just 50 percent of his passes (17 of 34), his lowest percentage of the season, for 202 yards, no touchdowns and a 68.5 rating. Facing a rugged Steelers defense that has been terrific at limiting opposing quarterbacks in the running game, Daniels mustered a season-low five yards on the ground and appeared out of sorts for much of the first half.

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What we wrote

“Daniels is still not 100 percent. ‘It’s nothing that’s holding me back,’ the quarterback said of the rib injury he suffered against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 20. ‘I go day-to-day with it.’ But in possibly related news, defenses are turning up the heat. Pittsburgh blitzed him 20 times, according to TruMedia, a season high.” — Sam Fortier

“On his way to the next 24 hours, Daniels glanced up at the Eagles-Cowboys game playing on the TV one more time. … If for a moment, his focus was on the rival the Commanders would play in four days, when his team will either get a do-over or experience another rude interruption to this dream season.” — Candace Buckner

“This is still an adjustment in Washington, dealing with difficult losses deep into autumn, with meaningful games ahead. That’s because Daniels — even on a 17-for-34 day when his accuracy was off — has made it seem as if anything is possible in any game, on any drive, on any snap.” — Barry Svrluga

What he said

“It stings, and you see that the guys are very passionate about wins and losses. It means something to them. It matters.

Daniels routinely hit his receivers with big throws — perhaps none prettier than his 18-yard strike to Terry McLaurin just before halftime. That was his second touchdown pass of the day, and in the second half he continued making plays to keep the Commanders ahead.

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What we wrote

“Finally, finally, Terry McLaurin has a quarterback, and never was it clearer than Sunday, when Daniels routinely dotted his receivers with big throws and salvaged a game nearly lost by Washington’s defense.” — Nicki Jhabvala

“As Daniels stood in the cement tunnel of MetLife Stadium, he looked the perfect emblem of what this team is becoming, a study in flash and yet work ethic, diamonds in his ears but a pair of truly tatty gray sweatpants on his legs worn through at the knees.” — Sally Jenkins

“This fall, Daniels has captivated the NFL, reenergized a dormant fan base, beaten three other top-six draft picks and emerged as a prohibitive favorite to win offensive rookie of the year honors (if only he didn’t have to cancel that $10,000 bet with Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers). Now, Daniels has ascended to discussions about the MVP award.” — Sam Fortier

What he said

“Everybody’s just respecting the brotherhood. Everybody is expected to work the same way.

Daniels was questionable to play all week with an injured rib, and by early Sunday, it became clear he’d go. His performance — 326 passing yards, including a 52-yard Hail Mary pass to win the game with no time left — will likely be remembered by Commanders fans for years to come.

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What we wrote

“Daniels, rib injury and all, starred in the biggest moment. … After completing a 13-yard pass to Terry McLaurin with six seconds remaining, Daniels took the snap from Washington’s 48-yard line with two seconds left and showed no vulnerability.” — Nicki Jhabvala

“Surely, the Commanders are thankful Daniels fell to the No. 2 selection in the 2024 NFL draft behind Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick. At this point, they would take Daniels any day and twice on Sunday. Especially this particular Sunday.” — Candace Buckner

“The greatest play in Northwest Stadium history would have looked and sounded incredible to Washington Commanders fans if a couple of middle-schoolers were broadcasting it underwater and with rocks in their mouths, but instead Jim Nantz and Tony Romo were assigned Sunday’s game for CBS. The network’s top NFL broadcast team nailed the call.” — Scott Allen

“Daniels let it fly after holding the ball for 12.79 seconds and covering 40.7 yards before throwing, which are the highest and third-highest metrics, respectively, on a touchdown pass since Next Gen Stats began tracking such data in 2016.” — Sam Fortier

What he said

“I just heard people screaming and our sideline rushing the field. That’s how I knew.

A smooth season for Daniels hit a speed bump after his career-long 46-yard rush on the Commanders’ first offensive play. Daniels didn’t look right the rest of the drive, and he exited the game for good with a rib injury.

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What we wrote

“The mixed emotions created an odd dichotomy for a team that only recently rediscovered its dominance. The concern about Daniels was palpable, but the unbridled excitement over the team’s success was evident.” — Nicki Jhabvala

“Don’t let the downer of Daniels’s first-quarter injury in Sunday’s laugher of a 40-7 victory over the rather pathetic Carolina Panthers get in the way of what should be the latest realization that it’s a completely new day for this team.” — Barry Svrluga

“Regardless of what happens next, whether Daniels can face No. 1 pick Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears on Sunday or whether he must miss time, the injury is not a reason to catastrophize the role of designed quarterback runs in the Commanders’ offense or hit the panic button on Daniels’s ability to protect himself.” — Sam Fortier

Daniels played well against two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, but the rookie ultimately couldn’t do enough to clean up the defense’s mess and stay upright behind his offensive line.

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What we wrote

“The drive was a clinic in Daniels’s manipulation of the defense, as he used his eyes to move defenders and create passing lanes that didn’t otherwise exist.” — Nicki Jhabvala

“Daniels framed the loss as a lesson, and after leaving Baltimore, the Commanders (4-2) should have plenty of positive feelings. They hung with a Ravens team that played in the AFC championship game last season.” — Candace Buckner

“After the game, the Ravens praised Daniels. Star quarterback Lamar Jackson said he ‘deserves all the hype.’ Linebacker Roquan Smith called him ‘the truth,’ adding, ‘For him to come into a hostile environment and perform the way he did, I’ve got much respect for him.’” — Sam Fortier

What he said

“It’s very promising that we were able to be in this type of game, but moving forward, it’s not going to get any easier.

Daniels completed 14 of 25 passes for 238 yards and had a game-high 82 rushing yards to become the first player in NFL history to pass for more than 1,000 yards and rush for 250 or more in his first five career games.

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What we wrote

“Jayden Daniels had his worst first half of his career … and yet still guided the Commanders to a big halftime lead en route to another blowout victory. If there was ever confirmation that this era is different, that this quarterback is unlike the dozens of others who have cycled through Washington, let that be it.” — Nicki Jhabvala

“What we now know about Daniels: Even when he’s not at his insanely accurate best, he can lead Washington to a resounding win.” — Barry Svrluga

“The stands were full of burgundy, white and black Daniels jerseys — it was the league’s top seller last week — and if Daniels keeps up his historic play, he could single-handedly usher the wardrobes of many Washington football fans into the modern era.” — Sam Fortier

What he said

“That’s just a testament to how we’re able to persevere through adversity and battle through some things,” Daniels said. “We left some stuff out on there on the table — a lot.

With another accurate afternoon, Daniels became the first player in NFL history with a completion percentage of 85 or higher in consecutive games (minimum of 15 attempts in each), and his 82.1 completion percentage on the season is the highest by any player in his first four games, surpassing the previous high of 79.2 set by Tom Brady in 2007.

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What we wrote

“In another impressive outing following his record performance in Week 3, Daniels methodically picked apart the Arizona Cardinals in a 42-14 win Sunday with a mix of quick throws, elusive runs and sound decision-making that extended Washington’s winning streak to three.” — Nicki Jhabvala

“If you animated his postgame remarks, you’d be tempted to include a steady stream of shrug emojis. Rookie quarterbacks aren’t supposed to be this accurate. Veterans quarterbacks don’t even command offenses like this. But Daniels is so impressively unimpressed by it all.” — Jerry Brewer

“[Daniels’s first interception] actually might be encouraging for the Commanders. Good process, bad result — the thinking behind the throw is more notable than the pick.” — Sam Fortier

“Daniels makes this all so different. It’s because he has — visibly and statistically — improved each week. It’s because he plays with both precision and flair. It’s because he is already making reads and throws that align with the best in the league (see: McLaurin, Terry, at Cincinnati). It’s because he seems to be having so much dang fun doing it.” — Barry Svrluga

What he said

“We won. It went pretty well.

Daniels put on an impressive show in his prime-time debut, leading the Commanders to a 38-33 win over Joe Burrow and the Bengals in Cincinnati on Monday night. Daniels’s 91.3 completion percentage is the highest ever by a rookie in an NFL game. Washington also had zero turnovers and zero punts for the second consecutive game, becoming the first team to achieve that in the Super Bowl era.

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What we wrote

“For the first time in more than a decade, Washington appears to have finally, finally, found its guy. The quarterback carousel that has spun year after year came to a halt.” — Nicki Jhabvala

“Monday night doesn’t make a career. But Monday night may well have kick-started one. The current Commanders aren’t built to win, but they have a winner to build around.” — Barry Svrluga

“In the locker room after the game, players gushed about Daniels’s composure and guts and accuracy. They relived the plays and talked about how a game like that could transform a team.” — Sam Fortier

“Only three weeks into his pro career, the accolades for Jayden Daniels are starting to pile up. The Commanders quarterback was named the NFC offensive player of the week, an honor no Washington player had earned since Adrian Peterson in 2018.” — Nicki Jhabvala

“The numbers don’t lie, and here are eight that illustrate just how much Daniels and the Commanders’ offense are thriving through three weeks.” — Scott Allen

What he said

“It’s just a blessing that the coaches have faith in me to go make a play in a critical moment.

The Commanders got their first victory, 21-18, after Daniels led a 65-yard drive to set up the game-winning field goal.

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What we wrote

“Daniels, who ran the ball 10 times for 44 yards, took five sacks. The bigger concern was the handful of hits he sustained, including one on third and 13 that knocked the wind out of him. He picked up a first down with his 14-yard scramble but left the game for a play to catch his breath.” — Nicki Jhabvala

“There is room to discuss whether he plays dangerously. What’s clear: He can be dangerous.” — Barry Svrluga

“Facing deficits could prompt the rookie to feel he has to ‘put the cape on,’ as coaches like to say, and probably would force the Commanders into more passing plays, exposing him to more risk. — Sam Fortier

What he said

“That’s what you live for, those moments. That’s where names get made in this league. When it comes down to it — big plays, two-minute drives, things like that — you got to have ’em.

The Commanders lost to the Bucs, 37-20, despite a prolific performance from Daniels’s legs.

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What we wrote

“Daniels’s ability to threaten defenses with his arm and his legs was part of the appeal when Washington drafted him with the second pick in April. Never was it the plan to have him become one-dimensional.” — Nicki Jhabvala

“It’s hard not to wonder whether Adam Peters has built an offense that can support Daniels.” — Sam Fortier

“Daniels finished his debut with the same number of touchdowns as lost helmets: two. For this season and his career to progress as designed, that first number has to go up and the second one needs to stay about where it is.” — Barry Svrluga

“My biggest fear is that those 16 insane carries reflect a lack of organizational control over a glamorous rookie.” — Thomas Boswell

What he said

“I don’t put a number or anything on how many times I run, stuff like that. But I do try to do whatever it takes to win the game.