After the Washington Commanders 2024 season ended with a loss in the NFC championship game to the Philadelphia Eagles, quarterback Jayden Daniels was asked when he’d be able to reflect on his amazing rookie season. Daniels said he didn’t know when he’d be able to reflect, but he wasn’t ready then.
Less than two weeks later, Daniels is in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX. Daniels is expected to be named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year on Thursday at NFL Honors. On Wednesday, Daniels made his rounds on Radio Row, discussing several topics. Dianna Russini of The Athletic spoke to Daniels on her “Scoop City” podcast and asked him to name his top five favorite plays from the 2024 season.
Daniels obliged but did not have an order for the five plays. Here are the five plays Daniels picked.
Let us know if you agree with his personal top five.
This may have been the moment when Daniels arrived. On the road against an AFC contender, Daniels stood tall in the pocket, knowing he was about to get hit, and delivered a strike to Terry McLaurin for a 28-yard touchdown pass to give the Commanders a 38-26 lead with 2:10 remaining. It was one of the NFL’s most impressive throws of the season.
The Commanders snapped the Eagles’ 10-game winning streak with a 36-33 win over Philadelphia in Week 16. Despite Washington turning the ball over five times, Daniels put the Commanders on his back, throwing five touchdown passes, including the game-winner to Jamison Crowder with six seconds left.
Of course, the 52-yard touchdown pass to Noah Brown to defeat the Bears as time expired is on the list. In a play that will always be known as the “Hail Mary,” it’s arguably the NFL’s most memorable play from the 2024 season.
Facing a fourth-and-2 from the Tampa Bay 5-yard line, Daniels drops back and calmly finds McLaurin for the touchdown pass to give the Commanders a 20-17 lead with 9:46 remaining. Washington would win 23-20, but that touchdown pass was pivotal and another example of Daniels’ calm under pressure.
In the playoff win over the Lions, Daniels threw this 42-yard strike to Dyami Brown, setting up another Washington touchdown in its 45-31 win. The pass was so perfect that Brown’s eyes were covered by the defender, and he still made the catch.