When was the last time the Washington Commanders were exciting?
In the headlines, yes. Controversial? Always. But exciting? Not since the Bush administration. Bush Senior, I mean.
Since winning Super Bowl XXVI in January 1992, Washington has hardly been a hindrance to good teams, but if Monday night is any indicator, that could soon change.
Against a 0-2 Cincinnati Bengals team on Monday Night FootballDaniels delivered one of the best performances in the program’s 55-year history. The No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and reigning Heisman Trophy winner from LSU completed 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards at 11.0 yards per attempt. He also scored three touchdowns, including one on the ground. Daniels led Washington in rushing with 39 yards and led the Commanders to a 38-33 victory over Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
At 2-1, Washington is far from a powerhouse. It took seven field goals and an injured opposing kicker to beat the New York Giants in Week 2. In Week 1, the Commanders were beaten by a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that was crushed by the previously winless Denver Broncos on Sunday.
But finally there is hope in Daniels.
Before last spring’s draft, there was real doubt about who would be selected No. 2. Leading up to the first round, many experts thought North Carolina’s Drake Maye would be the right choice, while college experts largely assumed USC’s Caleb Williams and Maye would be the first two picks.
Instead, new Commanders general manager Adam Peters went against popular opinion and selected Daniels after he threw for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns with four interceptions and ran for 1,134 yards and 10 more scores.
Daniels, seen by some as a quarterback who struggled to keep his eyes downfield while moving, did so consistently against the Bengals. He kept plays alive with his legs and, on Washington’s final drive on third down, faced a blitz from Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and threw a picture-perfect bomb to Terry McLaurin for the game-winning 27-yard touchdown.
It was the kind of throw that gives coaches confidence when it happens in practice. When it happens on a Sunday, it’s a moment. When it happens in prime time, it’s the start of a career.
Of course, there’s still a long way to go. Ask Robert Griffin III, who was once a rookie phenom for Washington before injuries ended his career. Even when it seems like everything is finally going well, things can go wrong.
But for the commanders, the proverbial stars finally seem to be aligned.
Washington has a quarterback who is the most talented playmaker since Griffin, perhaps even going back to Joe Theismann in the 1980s when he won a Super Bowl and an MVP. The Commanders also have a new owner in Josh Harris, who bought the team from a beleaguered Dan Snyder and has seemingly put adults in charge of everything from Peters to coach Dan Quinn.
And then there are the veterans added to the roster in the offseason, players with championship experience who can bolster the locker room and guide Daniels through the inevitable dark moments.
There’s guard Nick Allegretti, who got a three-year deal to leave the Kansas City Chiefs after winning three Super Bowls in five seasons. There’s Bobby Wagner, a 13-year veteran and future instant Hall of Fame linebacker who joined his old defensive coordinator Quinn on a one-year deal. There’s Zach Ertz, who caught five passes for 38 yards on Monday night and brought knowledge and security on game days.
None of that matters, however, if Daniels doesn’t become a star. The NFL is more reliant on quarterbacks than ever before. A good defense and competent supporting cast mean a borderline playoff team if the quarterback is just another guy.
After three games, Daniels is looking anything but different. He has completed 61 of 76 attempts (80.3% completion rate) for 664 yards and has added another 171 rushing yards and five total touchdowns. Most importantly, he has not had a single turnover.
It’s one thing when a rookie makes spectacular plays while hurting his team with big mistakes. It’s quite another when he takes care of the ball but doesn’t gain much ground.
If he can do both, like Daniels, then that is rising fame.
In the makingThese three words have applied to Washington for more than 30 years.
With Daniels, Commanders fans may finally be able to start saying three more words.
We come.
