Scrutinized Daniels finds redemption with game-winning drive for Commanders

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels shook off two interceptions and multiple weeks of failed late-game drives. Then he delivered when Washington needed him most -- in a game it had to win. Daniels' 32-yard touchdown pass with 49 seconds remaining gave the Commanders a 24-21 win over the New York Giants on Thursday night. "Baby Kobe," said Washington receiver Stefon Diggs, who caught Daniels' pass. Washington (3-5-1) is two games behind the Giants (5-3-1) in the NFC East. Washington had struggled in late-game situations, with three of its past four games coming down to the final minute. The Commanders were 0-2-1 in those contests. It was nearly a repeat scenario against New York, as Daniels tossed two interceptions prior to the game-winning drive -- one from the Giants' 24-yard line. But after the defense forced a punt, Daniels and Washington needed only three plays to go 71 yards. "When I had the opportunity to go out there and win the game, take a deep breath, go out there and just capitalize on the moment," he said. "I didn't want to let my team down." The final drive represented some vindication for Daniels, who led his first game-winning drive since a 2024 wild-card game at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This season, Daniels and the Commanders failed to convert a 2-point conversion in the opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, and Daniels failed to throw the ball away in overtime, preventing a chance for a game-winning field goal. In their previous two losses, the Commanders' final drive ended in enemy territory. Last week the Commanders failed to throw a pass into the end zone despite reaching the 32-yard line with 8 seconds remaining in a 20-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The losses led to Daniels being scrutinized and criticized. He told ESPN last week that he was "for sure" one of the most scrutinized quarterbacks in the NFL. Daniels, though, said Thursday night that he had only one thought as he jogged onto the field for the final drive: "One play at a time." Then he did what he hadn't done since his rookie season: lead a game-winning drive. He did so five times in 2024 en route to being named NFL offensive rookie of the year. "He's so cool, calm and collected all the time," Washington tight end Ben Sinnott said. "That energy goes to the whole offense, just being able to trust in him. You all were here for '24; how many drives he led us to victory, knowing what he can do and trusting in what we see every day." Daniels has now played five consecutive games since sitting out two because of a dislocated left elbow. It is the most games he has played in a row since starting all 20 games his rookie season. On Thursday, he completed 23 of 33 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns. But playing that many games consecutively has helped him find a groove, he said. "I'm starting to get into that rhythm," Daniels said. "It shows the more games you play consistently, the more reps you get, the more flow in the rhythm that you can [find]. And it was tough last year being in and out of the lineup and trying to catch a rhythm." But he also threw his first interceptions. "Got that out of my system, so got to move forward about that," Daniels said. "It just shows resilience and the belief that the team had in me. ... I'm going to kick myself for those mistakes in those critical moments." Washington coach Dan Quinn said, "With the interceptions, when you come back, it said a lot about him." Being in a rhythm might have helped Daniels on his final throw. When New York showed a cover zero blitz, Daniels gave a signal to Diggs, who ran a slant against corner Dru Phillips and then broke his tackle attempt and sped to the end zone where he turned at the 1, paused and fell backward into the end zone. "He'll be the same player he is in the beginning of the game as he is in the end of the game," Diggs said. "Things will happen good and bad and he isn't going to change."