DETROIT – A strange thing happened Saturday night at Ford Field.
The NFL’s loudest venue fell silent. Eerily silent.
Jaden Daniels didn’t notice.
How perfect! The unflappable Washington Commanders rookie hit a shot midway through a wild second quarter that suddenly changed the momentum of the game, with both teams scoring a playoff-record 42 points and all the noise died down.
And it wasn’t a big deal. He mostly shrugged it off after knocking out the Detroit Lions 45-31 to punch their ticket to the NFC title game.
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“The audience came out and was really excited,” Daniels said, briskly. “But when I was outside, I wasn’t focused on the crowd noise.”
In other words, for Daniels, it didn’t matter when the decibel levels reached triple digits or when the shock set in for the raucous fans that the home team was in deep crisis.
Daniels passed for 299 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed for over 50 yards. Meanwhile, Detroit’s ninth-year quarterback Jared Goff coughed up the football four times and looked very agitated, but Daniels didn’t commit a single turnover.
That way we can win in the playoffs. And Daniels had a near-perfect passer rating of 122.9. Dyami Brown ran for 38 yards and a touchdown. A well-timed swing screen gave Terry McLaurin 58 yards for a touchdown. Three conversions on fourth down. And he kept blitzing.
All of that is wrapped up in what we essentially learned about Daniels.
Wow, this kid is cool. For all his accurate pitching and smooth running, poise is his secret sauce. It’s no wonder he led Washington to five straight wins heading into the divisional round, each time with the ball in his hands at the end. His attitude definitely brings out the rest of his game.
Eighth-year running back Austin Ekeler told USA TODAY Sports, “I don’t have a moment with him.” “For better or for worse.”
Indeed, we’ve been hearing this story all season, as the 24-year-old Daniels has racked up one great moment after another. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 overall draft pick has been a central figure in the resurgence of the NFL’s signature franchise, rising to the status of a front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Now, he’s continuing that vibe into the playoffs, but conventional wisdom says it’s going to be even tougher.
Could Daniels crack under the pressure of the playoffs?
Apparently not. No one sent him that memo. He feels no need to change his approach.
“That’s not true,” he said. “Stay with it. Obviously the media and everyone is going to put more emphasis on the game because it’s win or go home. But you’ve got to go out there and be consistent. .”
It’s never lip service. When television cameras caught Daniels sitting on the bench Saturday night, he was as calm as ever. Teammates will tell you that’s pretty much been the case for him all season, no matter the situation. Company legend and head of human resources Doug Williams has been saying the same thing since Week 1.
Daniels is a guy you may have heard of, someone who doesn’t get too high when things are going well and doesn’t get too down when adversity hits. He’s the same guy. You know his teammates like this quality of him because they describe his character pretty consistently.
Does he ever change his expression?
Ekeler smiled and said: “Sometimes he makes jokes here and there. But that’s who he is. He’s laid back. He wants to play ball with his friends and have a good time.”
The Commanders (14-5) are one win away from the Super Bowl. How crazy is that?
That’s as crazy as a rookie stepping into the NFL and playing like a 10-year veteran. The Lions were certainly on guard. This week, coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn praised Daniels’ ability to make smart decisions. That respect was real and it was proven in the film and the results.
Then Daniels came out and proved it even more. The Lions blitzed with a higher batting average than all but one NFL team during the regular season, sending extra rushers on 34.6 percent of their snaps, no doubt due to a spate of injuries on defense.
Sensing the mass blitz, managers felt the effectiveness of the offense depended on winning man-to-man coverage matches and getting Daniels the ball quickly. end. He threw 31 passes and was never sacked.
“He’s been great,” said Brown, who led Washington with six catches and 98 yards. “A true competitor.
“But (he’s) still a rookie. I can’t wait to see him in his prime.”
That also applies to the rest of us. But first things first. Before Daniels reaches his prime, he has a date in the NFC title game.
Of course, he likes his chances now that he’s come this far. There doesn’t seem to be much to him about this situation. But the way he expresses it is so cool. You guessed it.
Do you think any team can win?
“I love the team,” Daniels replied. “I’m confident in my team. I’m going to go into the next game and focus on the opponent.”
No, there is no reason for Daniels to make a big fuss.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Jarrett Bell on X @JarrettBell.