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Washington’s star quarterback was born a week before Christmas on December 18, 2000. Jayden Daniels had celebrated his 5th birthday just 20 days before the Washington Redskins won their last playoff game on January 7, 2006 against these same Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That was 6,945 days between playoff wins. The Washington Nationals had just completed their inaugural season. George W. Bush was the President of the United States. And Mark Brunell was the aging 36 year old quarterback for Washington in that playoff game.
Washington legend Doug Williams in his early career at Tampa Bay. Shown here he’s in the original “Dreamsicle” uniform with the pirate holding a knife in his teeth. Williams came to Washington for his last four years starting just 14 regular season games winning only 5 of them. But, none of that matters when compared to the “Touch of Class” Super Bowl MVP game in 1987. Williams and Ricky Sanders abused the Denver secondary for four Touchdowns in a single quarter. That record still stands. Today Williams is a Senior Advisor to the Washington Football Team.
Some four and a half months ago Dan Quinn brought his new team to Tampa Bay for their first foray into real football. “New” was the operative word. The coaching staff had been “Oil Changed.” The Quarterback was starting his first game that would count. And, the roster had been essentially “Zero Staffed.” Only the players with longer and more expensive contracts were safe from the scythe that new General Manager Adam Peters wielded. Adding to the mix the opponent had won their Division three times in a row. Their coach was old friend Todd Bowles. He is considered a master at disguising Defenses. Surely the new QB would get schooled as the new WFT got trounced into disorganization. Tampa won handily. But, the game left an impression on Bowles.
Photo provided with permission of the Washington Commanders to TalkCommanders
The Washington Commanders won with 00:02 seconds remaining against the Cowboys with Marcus Mariota as the game-winning QB in relief of Jayden Daniels who got to rest in the second half. With the win, the Commanders finished their regular season with a 12-5 record, and the No. 6 seed in the playoffs.
“Dandy Don” Meredith was the face of the early Cowboys franchise. He was drafted by the cross-town rival AFL Dallas Texans and the Chicago Bears in the 3’rd Round of the 1960 Draft. Before the draft Meredith had signed a personal services contract with Cowboy Owner Clint Murchison’s Tecon Corporation. George Halas wanted Dallas to be successful so he allowed Meredith to go to Dallas in exchange for a 3rd Round Pick. Despite his larger than life persona Meredith only played for 9 years winning just 47 games.
“Stand up. Get your air. Use your God-given abilities. Go win us the game.” Those sound like words from a football coach. But, that was the coaching coming from veteran backup QB Marcus Mariota to a gassed Jayden Daniels. One play later…Touchdown, Playoffs, and bedlam. If you wrote this for a play or movie it would be dismissed as predictable and corny. It was neither. It was just simply glorious.
Photo provided by the Washington Commanders to TalkCommanders
A year ago, the Washington Commanders were finishing with four wins and securing the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. There were plenty of people saying that Washington should pick Drake Maye if the Bears took DMV native Caleb Williams. Some said to just trade back and take J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix, or Michael Penix. The only voice that mattered was Adam Peters, GM of the Commanders, when he chose the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Jayden Daniels. They were ridiculed for taking him to Top Golf as part of a pre-draft group outing, and they were ridiculed by others for picking him over the other quarterbacks.
That 20/20 hindsight is making Peters look smart as Daniels seems to be running away with the Rookie of the Year award. Nobody imagined, except Daniels, that on December 29, the Washington Commanders would have 11-wins and a playoff berth with the most wins in this franchise since the 1991 Super Bowl season. Led by Daniels, the Commanders beat the Falcons and Penix on Sunday Night Football to clinch a Wild Card spot, with one regular season game to be played. And forget the fools who claimed that Daniels “stole” the Heisman from Penix.
Tommy Nobis was the first draftee by the new Atlanta Falcons franchise in 1965. Although his career production was worthy of the honor, he did not get inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Whatever reservations the fanbase may have had about Jaden Daniels last week’s game should have erased them. His touchdown pass to Jamison Crowder in the waning seconds was simply a masterpiece. There have been no shortage of analysts breaking down the play. Basically Daniels read the inside Linebacker’s approach to Crowder. Recognizing a zone type pivot instead of chest-to-chest pivot Daniels cut the ball loose in a millisecond. Had the Linebacker gone to a man pivot then the other receiver crossing towards the middle would have been open. Daniels’ reading speed on that play was other-worldly. As teammate Tress Way said of Daniels, “If he’s on the field you got a chance.” And, that about sums it up.
Photo provided by permission of the Washington Commanders to TalkCommanders
How many different exciting endings can Jayden Daniels script? Throw an interception with time running down — hold the opponent to a field goal and a 5-point lead — drive your team down to the 10-yard line with 10 seconds left — throw the game winning touchdown for your 5th touchdown pass of the day for the game winner with 00:06 on the clock. Come on, that is fiction, right? Nope, and keep in mind that the Washington Commanders committed five turnovers in the game.
Washington icon Sonny Jurgensen in Eagles’ green is an odd sight to many WFT fans. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Eagles in 1957 and was part of their Championship team in 1960. The Eagles traded Sonny to Washington for QB Norm Snead and CB Claude Crabb. It was a great trade for the Burgundy and Gold.
Last week a one-point win resulted in a very grumpy “Victory Monday.” Would any WFT fan be similarly fussy with a one-point win this week? Unfortunately, some would…but, not too many. This fan base has been marinated in toxicity for long enough that fair winds and following seas are considered a source of annoyance. Such grouchiness doesn’t simply melt away. It has to be slowly peeled back layer-by-layer until the core of the onion is in plain view. This takes more time than a single season affords. A win this week would surely loosen another layer. At least one would hope so. But, there are no guarantees.
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In honor of Bob Dylan, and the movie that was released about his life, it is an opportune time to quote his words from The Times They Are A-Changin’: “Come writers and critics who prophesize with your pen, and keep your eyes wide [because] the chance won’t come again. And don’t speak too soon for the wheel’s still in spin, and there’s no tellin’ who that it’s namin’. For the loser now — will be later to win, for the times they are a-changin’.” Dylan believed that cycles could go from losing to winning. Dylan Crews talked about the same from his time at LSU when he won the National Championship in his final season.
Photo provided by permission of the Washington Commanders to TalkCommanders
The Washington Commanders will finish the 2024-2025 season with a winning record for the first time since 2016. That in itself should be reason to celebrate on this Victory Monday as Washington is now 9-5 on the season after this 20-19 win over the New Orleans Saints.
