Rookie QB Jayden Daniels Leads Commanders to Historic Playoff Run

DETROIT, Mich. — Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels made NFL history Saturday night, surpassing Andrew Luck‘s record for the most offensive yards by a rookie in a single season, including playoffs. Daniels’ 350-yard performance propelled the Commanders to a 45-28 upset victory over the top-seeded Detroit Lions in the Divisional Round.

Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, needed 190 yards to break Luck’s record of 4,952 yards set in 2012. He achieved the milestone in the second quarter with a 58-yard touchdown pass, giving Washington a 17-14 lead. The 24-year-old finished the game with 299 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 51 rushing yards, earning a 122.9 passer rating.

“We knew we were gonna have to put up points,” Daniels said after the win. “That’s a very explosive offense over there with a lot of great players, and we knew we had to go out there and put up points.”

The victory marks the Commanders’ second playoff win this season, their first since 2005. Daniels also became the first Washington rookie quarterback since Hall of Famer Sammy Baugh in 1937 to lead the franchise to a playoff victory.

Daniels’ record-breaking season includes 3,568 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and just nine interceptions during the regular season, along with a rookie QB record 891 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. His poise and versatility have been instrumental in transforming the Commanders from a 4-13 team last season to a playoff contender.

“He just has a different poise about him than most, and he’s a rare competitor,” said head coach Dan Quinn. “There’s no doubt about that.”

Daniels’ journey to the Divisional Round included a miraculous Hail Mary touchdown in Week Eight against the Chicago Bears, where he held the ball for 12.79 seconds before launching a 52-yard game-winning pass. The play marked the longest time to throw for a touchdown since Next Gen Stats began tracking in 2016.

Next, the Commanders face the Detroit Lions, the NFC‘s top-ranked team, in a highly anticipated matchup. The Lions, who have lost only two games all season, are heavy favorites, but Daniels remains unfazed. “We’re not going to give up until the clock hits zero,” he said. “We’re going to keep fighting until the end.”

The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports NFL, with kickoff at 1:15 a.m. Sunday morning.