LANDOVER, Md. — Jayden Daniels experienced fatigue after an intense game that extended beyond the typical duration and involved extensive running. However, his efforts paid off as he led the Washington Commanders to a playoff berth. In a thrilling overtime victory, Daniels threw a touchdown to Zach Ertz, completing his third touchdown pass of the night and finishing the game with a score of 30-24 against the Atlanta Falcons. This game showcased the skills of two highly-regarded rookie quarterbacks.
“The fan base has been waiting a long time for this,” Daniels expressed, emphasizing the significance of the achievement for both himself and the team. “I can’t articulate how much it means to lead this franchise and provide these opportunities.” In addition to his passing, Daniels achieved a season-high rushing performance with 127 yards, 42 of which were recorded during overtime. He completed 24 of 36 passes for 227 yards and delivered two touchdowns to Ertz, alongside another to Olamide Zaccheaus, solidifying his place in the playoffs during his rookie season.
Daniels, selected second overall in the April draft, showcased impressive resilience by overcoming an interception and a 10-point deficit at halftime. He successfully orchestrated the winning drive in overtime, culminating in a two-yard pass to Ertz, sealing the game. Veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner noticed the determination in Daniels’ eyes during the crucial moments of the game, stating, “His confidence and demeanor remain unwavering. You know he believes he’s going to execute, and everyone around him feels the same.”
The Commanders (11-5) are in a position to secure the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs, with a chance to play a wild-card game against either Tampa Bay or the Los Angeles Rams if they win their final regular-season match against Dallas. However, if they lose, they would be relegated to the seventh seed and face their division rivals, Philadelphia, unless Green Bay falls to Chicago.
On the other side, the Falcons (8-8) witnessed their playoff chances for winning the NFC South diminish. They now must defeat Carolina while hoping for a New Orleans victory against Tampa Bay to make it to the playoffs. Atlanta’s coach, Raheem Morris, emphasized the importance of focusing on their own game instead of external factors, encouraging his team to prepare for their upcoming matchup.
The Falcons dominated the initial half of the game with a potent running attack, led by Bijan Robinson, who rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns. However, after strong early success, the Falcons shifted away from the run in the second half. Quarterback Michael Penix attempted to rally the team after falling behind 24-17, completing a 12-play, 68-yard drive that ended in a touchdown pass to Kyle Pitts, tying the game with just over a minute left.
A late-pass interference call against the Commanders set up a potential game-winning field goal for Atlanta, but Riley Patterson’s 56-yard attempt fell short, sealing Washington’s victory as time ran out. Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu acknowledged the skill of the Falcons, stating, “Their quarterback is incredibly talented, and they fought hard to stay in the game.”
Penix completed 19 of 35 passes for 223 yards, including the touchdown and an interception.
Several notable milestones were reached during the game, with Daniels achieving 30 total touchdowns, tying Russell Wilson for third-most by a rookie quarterback and surpassing Robert Griffin III for the most rushing yards by a rookie quarterback with 864 yards. Ertz became the ninth tight end in NFL history to exceed 8,000 receiving yards, while Drake London recorded seven catches for 106 yards, marking his first professional season with over 1,000 receiving yards.
In terms of injuries, Washington suffered a setback with starting center Tyler Biadasz, who exited the game due to a left ankle injury. Similarly, right tackle Cornelius Lucas, who had stepped in for the injured Andrew Wylie, also faced a groin injury.
Looking ahead, the Falcons will host the Panthers next Sunday while keeping an eye on the Saints-Buccaneers matchup. The Commanders will travel to face the Dallas Cowboys next weekend, with hopes of enhancing their playoff seeding.
