NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
If you ranked the longest-suffering NFL fan bases, the Washington Commanders are in that top 10. In 2024, enter Jayden Daniels, and energy and excitement have returned to the DMV. This is a real season of change for the Commanders as Josh Harris and the ownership group are fully in charge, along with new GM Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn. With a top 3 pick in this year’s draft, they selected the 6’4 chill kid out of LSU who has kept his head down and let his play do the talking, awakening a dying fan base. It is a long NFL season, but after a month, the Washington Commanders sit first in the NFC East at 3-1. The first time the team has been 3-1 since 2011! A quick explanation of how most Commanders fans think we are always waiting for the other shoe to drop, trying not to get too high, and opening ourselves up for heartbreak.
Case in point, In my last article, when we faced the Bengals, I predicted a loss but also begged the team not to lay another egg on national TV. I know I was not the only fan who felt this way, and at the same time, I was beyond hype when we went out and punched Joe Burrow and company in the face and put the league on notice. Even heading to Arizona, I was uneasy with the performances our defense had could we beat Kyler Murray and the Cardinals? YES, we could, and once again our rookie QB was calm and made the plays we needed when we needed them. Not since the days of RGIII has it felt like this. He is not the first Heisman Trophy winner to suit up for us but he is on pace to be the best. A look at what makes him so good and sparks this team out of the bottom of the NFL.
Do you want to talk about being effective? The final two minutes of the second quarter was the first time Washington punted since the 1st quarter of WEEK 1! I don’t care if it’s a 5-year vet or a rookie QB that is amazing and rare to see. The huge difference between Jayden and RGIII is his pocket awareness and his skill as a thrower. I love arm talent guys like Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rogers, and Patrick Mahomes can sling the rock. He tucks and runs when he feels it and not because he doesn’t know how to read a defense or gets impatient.
Another huge part of this early season success has been new OC Kilff Kingsbury who has been feeding the rookie a little more each week, and setting him up to be successful. Sunday was the 2nd game he completed more than 80% of his passes, and the offense scored 30 points in back-to-back games for the first time since 2017. Can he keep that up all season long? Most likely that is a NO, but did you see how he reacted to his first interception? The way he shook it off and moved on will be an important way of thinking as the season moves on.
Daniels can get to the line and pick up what the defense is setting up to do and either run the play and make a choice on where to go with the ball quickly, or run and get positive yardage. We need to call someone from the Nats to teach him how to slide asap. A perfect example of his leadership and quick processing was the touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin. Saw the biltz, and took the hit right in the chops. But still plants his foot and fires a dart to end the game.
The entire team has Jayden Daniels back and with a new team running things, this is what we Commanders fans have been dreaming of for decades. This is just the beginning for Jayden and this team and the rest of the NFL should be worried about that. This offense is on pace by the numbers to be one of the best in NFL history yes, I am drinking the Kool-Aid but this flavor is mighty tasty and I will have some more, please.
