Daniels doesn't flinch, delivers again in big moment

LANDOVER, Md. -- When the Washington Commanders took possession 57 yards from the extremity area pinch little than 2 minutes remaining and trailing by 5 points against a squad that had won 10 consecutive games, backmost Jayden Daniels showed nary signs of stress.

It's easy to spot why: Daniels continues to present successful these moments. He did truthful erstwhile again pinch a 9-yard touchdown walk to receiver Jamison Crowder pinch 6 seconds remaining successful a 36-33 win complete the Philadelphia Eagles (12-3).

"He really lights up successful those spots," Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. "Today, he became a dense hitter."

But Daniels' heroics weren't constricted to the last touchdown pass. He became the first backmost successful franchise history -- and sixth successful NFL history -- to propulsion 5 touchdown passes successful a crippled arsenic the Commanders inched person to a playoff berth.

Washington (10-5) tin clinch a spot pinch 1 much win. The Commanders adjacent play Dec. 28 against the Atlanta Falcons (8-7).

For Daniels, Sunday provided a continuation of large plays and moreover bigger moments. He threw 3 touchdown passes successful the 4th fourth unsocial -- arsenic good arsenic an interception connected the Commanders' penultimate drive.

"You want to spot really you lucifer up against those types of [teams]," Daniels said.

Already this play he completed a 52-yard Hail Mary to hit the Chicago Bears; he threw 2 touchdown passes successful the last 4 minutes against Dallas that would person resulted successful a necktie had Washington made the 2nd other point. In a triumph complete Cincinnati successful Week 3, Daniels threw a touchdown walk pinch little than 4 minutes near to clinch a win.

Daniels besides led a game-winning section extremity thrust to hit the New York Giants successful Week 2. There's a logic he's the NFL's top-rated backmost successful the last 2 minutes of regularisation among quarterbacks pinch astatine slightest 10 starts. He has thrown an NFL-best 4 touchdown passes successful that stretch.

"I emotion those types of situations," Daniels said. "Those are erstwhile it's connected bladed crystal and plays request to beryllium made. That's what you unrecorded for. If you really emotion the athletics you unrecorded for those big-time moments wherever it comes down to the end, everything's against you, your backs against the wall. How will you respond?"

It's why Daniels is considered the apt violative rookie of the year. He now has 22 touchdown passes.

"I spot a batch of poise," Crowder said. "He's cool, calm, collected nether pressure. A batch of times you don't get that from a batch of quarterbacks."

In the postgame locker room, receiver Terry McLaurin -- who caught an over-the-shoulder 32-yard walk for a touchdown successful the 2nd 4th -- told Daniels he loved playing pinch him. It's understandable: McLaurin has a career-high 12 touchdown catches and surpassed 1,000 yards receiving for the 5th consecutive season.

"If we're making plays aliases missing plays he conscionable has a measurement to enactment moreover keel," McLaurin said. "I've ne'er seen that from a rookie astatine immoderate position, fto unsocial 1 quarterbacking. He has a measurement of making the correct plays erstwhile it's time. You can't thatch that. His expertise to get amended each week and study from his mistakes is why he has a chance to beryllium 1 of the awesome ones."

Daniels besides wounded the Eagles pinch his legs. He rushed for 82 of the Commanders' 114 yards rushing. None mattered much than the 29 yards he picked up connected a fourth-and-11 scramble, swerving past defenders successful the mediate of the field, to the Eagles' 12. Three plays later he connected pinch receiver Olamide Zaccheaus for a 4-yard touchdown.

"I've ne'er seen him flinch," McLaurin said. "The only clip I've ever seen him show emotion is erstwhile we mislaid to Baltimore [in Week 6]. He was connected the sideline and I was upset, but I was benignant of smiling to myself because [I was thinking], we've sewage america one. He hates to lose."

Daniels arrives astatine the installation by 5:30 a.m. and conducts a walkthrough pinch violative coordinator Kliff Kingsbury 3 days a week -- finishing astir 6:30 a.m. Quinn said he has worked his players much connected situational shot than astatine immoderate clip successful his coaching history.

That's why the players said it felt conscionable for illustration believe erstwhile driving for the game-winning score. In fact, Daniels threw a touchdown walk to Crowder connected the aforesaid way vs. the aforesaid two-safety look successful believe Friday.

Because of this mentation Daniels avoids emotion stressed -- moreover aft throwing an interception precocious successful the 4th fourth that led to an Eagles section goal.

"That keeps the remainder of america calm," Washington defender Sam Cosmi said. "The biggest point that's awesome to spot is the personification that has the astir belief successful his expertise is himself. He's a dog; he's a competitor. I'm really happy he's my QB."