PHILADELPHIA — Jayden Daniels found himself without an opportunity to orchestrate yet another incredible comeback in the crucial NFC championship game. The rookie quarterback, who had steered the Washington Commanders to an impressive six-game winning streak, had earlier triumphed in the final seconds of five of those matches. However, during the final moments against the Philadelphia Eagles, he could only watch the celebratory confetti fall around him.
Washington’s dreams of a Super Bowl appearance, the first since the 1991 season, came crashing down with a lopsided 55-23 defeat. The loss was compounded by three fumbles that resulted in 21 points for the Eagles. Although Daniels wanted to endure the final moments, even if it meant merely handing off the ball, Coach Dan Quinn decided it was time to give him a break. Daniels’ quest to be the first rookie quarterback to play in a Super Bowl was over.
“His competitive nature sets him apart,” Quinn remarked. “He has an incredible ability to remain focused in intense situations. It was tough for him to step off the field at that moment, as he wanted to continue. Ultimately, that decision was mine. That’s just who he is as a competitor.”
Despite this setback, Daniels still has time to lead Washington back to prominence and possibly capture a Super Bowl trophy, which could restore hope to fans who were disheartened during the Dan Snyder era. Facing the Eagles, however, Daniels exited the game overshadowed by compatriot Jalen Hurts, who delivered a stellar performance with four touchdowns as the Eagles established their dominance in the NFC.
“This loss weighs heavily on me,” Daniels admitted. “But the support of my teammates in the locker room makes a difference, and I truly value their presence.”
Veteran Zach Ertz, trying to uplift spirits after the loss, expressed his appreciation for the fans as he left the field. The former Eagles tight end, who caught 11 passes for 104 yards, reflected on his own career and lamented the limited time he has left in the sport.
“I wish I were 22 again, playing alongside him,” Ertz said regarding Daniels. “It’s hard knowing my career is winding down.”
Daniels completed 255 passing yards, including one touchdown and one interception, while also being sacked three times throughout the match.
“This was just Year 1,” Daniels reflected. “We’re still getting to know each other as a team. The veterans have done a fantastic job integrating us rookies, and we all blended well. We made it this far, but ultimately, we lost. It’s disappointing, but we need to move forward.”
Washington appeared unfazed during the opening moments of the championship game, even in front of an eager Eagles crowd. They executed an 18-play drive, culminating in a field goal that hushed the spectators, showing they were ready to clinch a third consecutive road playoff victory after their recent win over the top-seeded Detroit Lions.
However, the positive momentum was short-lived. The Eagles quickly answered as Saquon Barkley dashed for a 60-yard touchdown on Philadelphia’s opening play, and moments later, Washington lost possession on a fumble, leading to another Barkley touchdown, pushing the score to 14-3.
Additional turnovers plagued the Commanders, with another fumble occurring on the kickoff following a touchdown by Hurts. The Eagles capitalized yet again, converting the turnover into another score when Hurts connected with A.J. Brown for a 4-yard touchdown.
A third fumble in the third quarter led to yet another Hurts touchdown, further sealing Washington’s fate by making the score 27-12.
“We have to give Philadelphia credit for this,” Quinn acknowledged. “They were the ones forcing those mistakes. It wasn’t just careless play on our end.”
To add insult to injury, the Commanders were cautioned that referees might “award a score” due to four consecutive penalties committed near the goal line. Ultimately, Hurts scored once more.
Washington’s loss meant they would not join the select group of No. 6 seeds to reach the Super Bowl. This feat had only been achieved by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005 and the Green Bay Packers in 2010, who both also managed to defeat the top three seeds in their conference along the way.
Quinn found himself unable to advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in eight seasons after previously coaching the Atlanta Falcons, who infamously squandered a 28-3 lead against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI.
However, optimistic under the ownership of Josh Harris, a seasoned management team, and Daniels at the helm, the Commanders are hopeful for a better future. After a disappointing 4-13 record last season, they rebounded to 12-5 this time around, and the team believes their best days lie ahead, even if they are not quite on par with the Eagles just yet.
“The lessons learned will be invaluable moving forward,” Quinn concluded.
