The No. 6 seed Washington Commanders stunned the football world on Saturday night, pulling off an upset in the divisional round of the NFL postseason against the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions, who were widely considered Super Bowl favorites coming out of the NFC.
With the victory, the Commanders have punched their ticket to the NFC championship for the first time since 1991, and they’ve done it all with rookie sensation Jayden Daniels leading the charge at quarterback.
Washington entered the game as 8.5-point underdogs, according to DraftKings Sportsbook — but that’s been the story of the Commanders’ season. While the entire team has played phenomenally, Daniels has been the centerpiece of it all, after being selected No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL draft.
Following the game, a tweet from Daniels dating back to 2014 resurfaced on social media, marking a full-circle moment for him and his career. In it, Daniels had manifestly predicted exactly what would come to fruition a decade later.
"One day you guys gonna hear my name everywhere" Daniels posted in July of 2014.
Washington dominated on Saturday night, securing a 45-31 victory on the road in a hostile environment against a team that finished the regular season with a 15-2 record.
Daniels finished the game 22 of 31 for 299 yards, two touchdowns, and zero turnovers, while also rushing 16 times for 51 yards. He has been exceptional all season long, but he’s truly elevated his play in the postseason. Now, the Commanders are just one win away from heading to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9.
