Entering Sunday night, there were only three starting rookie quarterbacks in NFL history to ever win a playoff game on the road.
That number has been increased to four — courtesy of a remarkable effort by Jayden Daniels.
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The Commanders’ rookie quarterback continued his dazzling first year in the NFL by picking up his first postseason win, going on the road to Tampa Bay to defeat the Buccaneers 23-20 in the wild-card round. Washington kicker Zane Gonzalez’s field goal attempt as time expired clanged off the upright, but fell through for the game-winning kick, lifting the Commanders to victory.
It’s hard to tell that Daniels was playing college football just a year ago. The No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft came through in clutch moments time and time again in the regular season for Washington, leading to his status as the favorite to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year honor. It resulted in a playoff berth for the Commanders, and the Washington faithful saw that success translate over into the postseason, as Daniels led the way to the club’s first playoff win since 2005.
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Here’s a look at Daniel’s stats and best moments from Sunday’s win over the Buccaneers.
Jayden Daniels stats vs. Buccaneers
- Comp.: 24-35 (68.7%)
- Pass yards: 268
- Pass TD: 2
- INT: 0
- Rush yards: 36
- Rush TD: 0
- Sacks: 1
Daniels enjoyed an efficient day at the office in his playoff debut, finishing 24-of-35 for 268 yards and two touchdowns. He also tallied 36 yards on the ground. Washington’s 35 minutes of time of possession was crucial in the win, keeping the ball out of the hands of Baker Mayfield and the Bucs’ offense.
The rookie once again relied on his favorite target, Terry McLaurin. The longtime Washington receiver hauled in seven of his 10 targets for 89 yards and a touchdown. However, it was a breakout game for Dyami Brown, who caught all five of his targets for 89 yards and a score, as well.
It’s safe to say that the performance by Daniels is the best showing out of a rookie QB on the road in a win. Out of the previous four first-year quarterbacks to win a road postseason contest, none had multiple touchdowns, nor did any throw for over 200 yards. Daniels was able to achieve both, and he did so without turning the ball over.
“You’ve got to give him credit, they made plays,” Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles said of Daniels and the Commanders. “We had our chances to make some plays that we didn’t make, but it was a combination of both. They made plays and we didn’t make the plays when we had the chance.”
Here are the key plays that led the Commanders to the victory.
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Jayden Daniels highlights vs. Buccaneers
Daniels started off the game hot. With pressure right in his face, he stepped up and hit McLaurin for a 35-yard completion on the Commanders’ first drive of the game.
SCARY TERRY 😳
📺: #WASvsTB on NBC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/uVjqN2Ygt6— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2025
While that possession did not result in points, Daniels got the Commanders on the board during the second quarter, orchestrating a 17-play, 92-yard drive that was punctuated with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Brown. The entire possession ate up more than nine minutes of clock.
Dyami Brown wide open in the back of the end zone! TD @Commanders!
📺: #WASvsTB on NBC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/ZUyUbswAte— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2025
Daniels helped set up a couple of field goals by Gonzalez to keep adding points in the back-and-forth affair, but the rookies’ two biggest plays of the game came during the fourth quarter.
The Commanders were trailing 17-13 when Mayfield fumbled an exchange with wide receiver Jalen McMillan, allowing Washington to gain possession at the Tampa Bay 13-yard line. After a run for no gain and two short passes, Daniels and the offense were facing a fourth-and-2 from the five-yard line.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn elected to stay aggressive, going for the touchdown rather than the three points. It paid off as Daniels hit McLaurin in the end zone for the score, giving Washington the lead with under 10 minutes to go.
PEEKABOOOOOOO 👻
📺 #WASvsTB @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/M5JNCesPwi
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 13, 2025
The Buccaneers were able to kick a field goal to tie the game with five minutes to go in regulation, and it was up to Daniels to come through in the clutch again. The first-year pro added another late-game highlight to his growing portfolio, scrambling away from pressure on 3rd-and-2 with 55 seconds left to pick up a pivotal first down that led to the game-winning kick.
Jayden takes it himself!! 1st down and in FG range with less than :40 to go 👀
📺: #WASvsTB on NBC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/YFb1x4TrHq— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2025
If the Commanders want to advance to the NFC championship, Daniels is more than likely going to have to repeat his success in high-stakes situations. Washington travels to Detroit to take on the No. 1 seeded Lions in the divisional round next week.
Jayden Daniels game-winning drives
Daniels authored four game-winning drives and four fourth-quarter comebacks during his rookie season, including a Hail Mary victory over the Bears in Week 8, a wild comeback vs. the Eagles in Week 16, an OT win vs. the Falcons in Week 17, and a last-second TD vs. the Cowboys in Week 18, which guaranteed Washington the No. 6 seed and the chance to play the Bucs instead of the Eagles.
Sunday night’s performance marked his fifth GWD and 4QC, and while not quite as dramatic as the others, Daniels certainly had a memorable playoff debut that could be a preview of what’s to come in his hopefully lengthy career.
