At the same time as a rookie, Jayden Daniels is shortly gaining a popularity as a late-game escape artist.

Daniels led the Washington Commanders’ thrilling comeback on Sunday, driving them 57 yards within the ultimate two minutes and hitting Jamison Crowder with a 9-yard landing move within the closing seconds to beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 36-33.

“I at all times imagine that we are able to win a sport it doesn’t matter what,” Daniel mentioned, per the official transcript. “The sport isn’t over till the clock hits zero.”

The Eagles took a 30-28 lead with 3:48 remaining, however Daniels threw an interception underneath duress — considered one of 5 turnovers for Washington on Sunday — that Reed Blankenship returned to the Washington 27-yard line. 4 performs and 55 seconds later, one other area aim elevated Philadelphia’s result in 33-28.

No two-minute stoppage. One timeout. Down a landing. That is when Daniels is at his greatest, even after the crippling interception.

A penalty and lengthy kickoff return bought Washington began at their very own 43-yard line, however Daniels carried them many of the remainder of the best way. He accomplished 4 of 5 passes on the ultimate drive (with a spike to cease the clock) for 33 yards and two runs for 14 extra, hitting Crowder for the 9-yard TD with six seconds left. The Eagles’ kickoff return got here up quick, and Washington reached its first 10-win season since 2012.

“In case you give him moments, he actually lights up in these spots,” Commanders head coach Dan Quinn instructed reporters after the sport.

Daniels first confirmed indicators of his late-game magic in a fourth-quarter comeback towards the Giants in Week 2. He reached one other plateau along with his Hail Mary towards the Bears in October, a sport Daniels wasn’t even anticipated to play with a rib harm. Then Sunday, within the Commanders’ greatest sport thus far, Daniels delivered once more in crunch time.

“Right now he grew to become a heavy hitter,” Quinn mentioned. “He actually did.”

Daniels really wanted to guide the Commanders again twice within the fourth quarter, hitting Olamide Zaccheaus for 2 TDs to present Washington the lead with 9 minutes left earlier than the Eagles regained the benefit. Apparently, each Zaccheaus and Crowder every caught a pair of TDs passes within the sport. Each gamers entered Sunday with zero landing receptions.

For the sport, Daniels accomplished 24 of 39 passes for 258 yards, 5 landing passes and two picks. He additionally ran for 81 yards on 9 carries. Daniels is barely the third QB to have 5 or extra TD passes and 75 or extra rush yards in the identical sport, becoming a member of Lamar Jackson (twice in 2019) and Cam Newton, who did it as soon as in 2015.

The stats are spectacular. However Daniels mentioned he most cherishes having the sport on the road and the ball in his palms. The truth that his late turnover made the comeback tougher gave him much more motivation.

“I like these sorts of conditions,” Daniels mentioned. “… (The sport is) on skinny ice, and performs must be made. That is what you reside for for those who actually love this sport, you play for these big-time moments the place it comes right down to the tip.

“Till the tip, every part’s towards you, your again’s towards the wall, how will you reply?”

With a game-winning drive and one other rousing victory, naturally. It is what Daniels is turning into identified for early in his profession.