‘He just willed it’: Daniels has Wash. playoff-bound

LANDOVER, Md. — As Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, still wearing his burgundy uniform, sat down at a table for his postgame news conference, he smiled and said something that shouldn’t have surprised anyone after watching his playoff-clinching performance.

“I’m tired,” he said. “But I’m happy.”

Carrying a franchise to the playoffs and its best season in years can do that to a rookie. But that’s what Daniels has done: His 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Zach Ertz in overtime gave Washington a 30-24 win against the Atlanta Falcons and clinched a playoff spot.

“He just willed it,” Washington coach Dan Quinn said of Daniels.

Daniels threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another 127 yards. He became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least two touchdowns, throw for at least 200 yards and run for at least 65 yards in three consecutive games. He now has 25 touchdown passes.

Daniels converted three fourth downs as well, one with his legs and two with his arm — including a 7-yard scoring pass on fourth-and-2 in the first quarter.

All of those yards and three touchdowns were needed Sunday night. But, because Daniels did what he did, Washington (11-5) has won 11 games for the first time since the 1991 season, also the last time the franchise won the Super Bowl. The Commanders currently have the No. 6 seed and can clinch that spot by beating Dallas in the finale or if Green Bay loses to Chicago.

Washington last made the playoffs in 2020 and hasn’t won a postseason game since the 2005 season. But the Commanders will enter full of confidence thanks to Daniels as well

“We just freaking win,” said punter Tress Way, who joined the team in 2015 and is the longest-tenured Commander. “I mean, we have 11 wins. What? … It does help when you have No. 5 on your team. That dude’s pretty freaking good.”

Washington won only four games last season but hired general manager Adam Peters and Quinn to rebuild the team. Quinn said he did not view this as a rebuild, saying he preferred the word “recalibration.”

But, with Daniels, the word appeared to become “accelerated.” He quickly established himself with teammates because of his work habits and on-field ability.

“It comes down to having a really good quarterback in this league,” Ertz said. “And from the moment I got here, seeing Jayden out there, I continually said this guy isn’t someone that’s going to be good, he’s good now.

“And when you have that position situated in this league, you have a chance. This organization is in a great spot for years to come.”

It was the third game in a row Washington won on the final play from scrimmage. It held off a two-point conversion to beat New Orleans; Daniels threw a touchdown pass to cap a rally from 14 down to beat Philadelphia, and then Sunday night happened. Daniels also beat the New York Giants in Week 2 with a late field goal drive, and the Bears in Week 7 on a Hail Mary.

Against the Falcons, Daniels led a 70-yard drive, which began with a false start penalty, by running for 42 yards and throwing for 32.

“He’s the most mature rookie I’ve ever been around. He exudes a quiet confidence,” Ertz said. “He’s not a rah-rah guy. We all know how good he is and how much confidence we have in him. He doesn’t need to say anything.”

Washington signed players such as Ertz and linebacker Bobby Wagner in the offseason to provide leadership. It signed linebacker Frankie Luvu to make big plays. But the Commanders also received key contributions from players such as receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, who has 43 receptions, including eight Sunday night.

Those players joined a franchise that has endured plenty in recent years — and decades. Washington hadn’t had a winning season since 2016. The NFL and then Congress investigated the organization for what was termed a toxic work culture under previous owner Dan Snyder. The team made way more news off the field than on.

But Snyder sold to Josh Harris in July 2023 and, after a 4-13 season, embarked on a franchise makeover.

“To go through what this team has the [previous] three years, it’s special,” said fourth-year tight end John Bates. “We just got a team that doesn’t flinch. It’s really a special deal.”

After the win, safety Jeremy Reaves brought his girlfriend, Mikaela Worley, down to the field where he proposed in front of a wall of cameras. She said yes.

The entire night proved to be meaningful for him. After all, he’s been with the franchise since 2018.

“It’s an awesome feeling to be on the other side of things,” he said.

Wagner played for a number of good teams in Seattle, winning one Super Bowl while losing another. He signed a one-year deal in the offseason to reunite with Quinn, his defensive coordinator for two years with the Seahawks.

As the team went through camp Wagner felt a bond developing.

“You saw that grow throughout the season,” Wagner said. “When you get a lot of guys confident and believing in one another it makes the team scary.”