Jayden Daniels’ Poise Paces Commanders — and Could Haunt the Bears for Years
A Dominant Performance
The most significant win of the NFL postseason was sparked Saturday night by a Commanders head coach whom the Bears passed over for their own job; an offensive coordinator the Bears turned down in favor of Shane Waldron; and a quarterback whom the Bears could have chosen in last year’s draft.
The Quarterback Who Could Haunt the Bears
The third part should be most disturbing to those inside Halas Hall. Quarterback Caleb Williams may one day turn into the franchise quarterback the Bears need him to be, but the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels is there now. He has the chance to haunt them for the next decade, if not longer.
A Poised Performance
The surefire Offensive Rookie of the Year played with poise that belied his rookie status in Saturday night’s 45-31 win against the top-seeded Lions at Ford Field. He went 22-for-31 for 299 yards, two touchdowns, and a 122.9 passer rating but was at his best when the Commanders needed him most, converting three of four fourth downs. The Commanders punted just once.
Coach’s Praise
“[Daniels] just has a different poise about him than most, and he’s a rare competitor, there’s no doubt about that,” said Commanders coach Dan Quinn, who was a finalist for the head coaching job the Bears gave to Matt Eberflus three years ago. “If he was a basketball player, he’d want the last shot. As a [foot]ball player, he wants the ball in his hands to make the difference. And he makes great decisions with the football and that takes real mindfulness. Sometimes the best play may be, ‘Hey, I have to throw this away.'”
A Team Effort
Playing under coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who somehow lost out on the Bears’ play-caller job last year, the Commanders outflanked a Lions team that seemed to overthink things. Coordinator Ben Johnson, one of the Bears’ top head coaching targets, had a whopping four different Lions players attempt a pass.
A Quarterback Who Can Run
The Commanders had no such gimmicks. Daniels ran 16 times for 51 yards, too.
A Bright Future
Even if the Lions were expecting that sort of poise — “Tape says so,” coach Dan Campbell said — it was remarkable to see. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner will next week become the sixth rookie quarterback since the NFL-AFL merger to start a conference title game. The others are Brock Purdy, Mark Sanchez, Joe Flacco, Ben Roethlisberger, and Shaun King.
A Chance to Make History
None has won a conference title. Daniels gets his chance next week.
Conclusion
Jayden Daniels’ poise and performance have the potential to haunt the Bears for years to come. With his talent and confidence, he could lead the Commanders to great success in the coming seasons.
FAQs
Q: Who is Jayden Daniels?
A: Jayden Daniels is the quarterback of the Washington Commanders.
Q: Why is he a concern for the Bears?
A: Daniels’ poise and performance have the potential to haunt the Bears for years to come, as he could lead the Commanders to great success in the coming seasons.
Q: Who is Kliff Kingsbury?
A: Kliff Kingsbury is the offensive coordinator of the Washington Commanders.
Q: Who is Ben Johnson?
A: Ben Johnson is the coordinator of the Detroit Lions and one of the Bears’ top head coaching targets.
