Washington continues to rise
The Washington Commanders went into their home game with some uncertainty, at least outside the building, about whether Jayden Daniels was playing after suffering a rib injury the previous week. He started the game and played until well past the final second to deliver a miraculous Hail Mary to retake the lead, and seal the victory.
This was billed as the game between the top two picks in this year’s draft, and the two favorites for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Jayden Daniels might have locked that award up with that throw, and he gained more ground on NFL MVP for lifting his team, and his community, up with his play.
Washington is now 6-2, and they still have sole possession of first place in the NFC East. FanDuel had them at 6 1⁄2 wins before the season started, and that over could hit on Sunday against the New York Giants. Washington is still not the favorite in the division, despite having one more win(and game played), than Philadelphia. The Eagles look like the Commanders only competition for the NFC East division title, and the two teams won’t meet until a Week 11 Thursday Night Football game in Philly.
High: 3
Low: 12
Average: 7.0
#3
Clutch Points(Johrendt)
Going all week with uncertainty at quarterback, the Washington Commanders were very happy to have rookie QB Jayden Daniels back in their lineup. Leading a low-scoring game through the first three quarters, the Commanders needed a miraculous, game-winning Hail Mary to go their way – and it did.
Connecting with Noah Brown on the final play of the game, the Commanders pulled a lucky rabbit out of a hat at just the right time, as they comfortably sit atop the NFC East with a 6-2 and undefeated home record. Last week: 4
NumberFire
Last week: 7
#4
Sports Illustrated(Orr)
Full thoughts on the Commanders here. I’ll follow with this: I did not see a holding call, or at least one that you would unholster the flag for, on that final drive. Sure, by the letter of the law, there was a hand on the back, but this was a coaching issue on Chicago’s part. Washington took advantage. And, I’ll credit Dan Quinn here. People make fun of his Pete Carroll-reminiscent relentless positivity, but boy does that resonate when you’re trying to get into position for a one-in-a-million Hail Mary and you have to do a ton of little things right. Last week: 6
#5
NFL.com(Edholm)
When Jayden Daniels is named Offensive Rookie of the Year, we’ll look back at Sunday’s Hail Mary as the moment he really pulled away. Daniels — who seemed unlikely to even suit up for the contest throughout much of last week — outgunned Caleb Williams for most of the game, but still needed the rabbit to come out of the hat. There was luck, sure, but Daniels also made that play happen by wearing out the Bears’ rushers, keeping a confused secondary in scramble mode and delivering a well-placed teardrop that was tipped into the hands of Noah Brown. Clearly, Washington practiced that one well. And in that one play, you saw the seeds of the offseason plan paying off: the significant coaching upgrade, the brilliance of the Daniels pick and the payoff of a slew of hungry veterans such as Brown, all filling key roles for a 6-2 football team. Don’t forget a game defense that has now turned in impressive showings in four of the past five games. This team is real, folks. Last week: 7
Fox Sports(Brooks)
The legend of Jayden Daniels continues to grow, with the Hail Mary cementing his superhero status. The dynamic dual-threat can single-handedly carry the Commanders to a win with or without his supporting cast playing up to par. As Dan Quinn continues to tweak the defensive lineup and tactics to maximize his personnel, the Commanders can rest easy knowing No. 5 can throw on his cape and rescue them from any situation. Last week: 5
Fox Sports(Helman)
For one week, let’s shelve the discussion about how far the Commanders can go, or whether they’re the best team in the NFC East. Let’s just celebrate the fact that football is alive and well and fun in the Washington D.C. area. After a generation of misery and ineptitude, it’s fun to see the Commanders’ fan base have this moment. Last week: 7
#6
CBS Sports(Prisco)
It took a Hail Mary on the final play to beat the Bears, but they will take it. Getting a victory with Jayden Daniels banged up was big. Last week: 9
Pro Football Talk
They’re looking like a team of destiny. Last week: 7
#7
ESPN
Best offseason addition: Quarterback Jayden Daniels
Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick and early favorite to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, has made intelligent and highlight plays — not just the Hail Mary to beat Chicago. And he has provided hope for a franchise that has sought an answer at quarterback for decades. He has thrown for 1,736 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for 424 yards and four scores. Daniels’ 72.7 QBR ranks fifth in the NFL — Washington’s cumulative QBR was 40.3 from 2018 to 2023. — John Keim Last week: 9
The Athletic(Kendall)
Something Scary: Jayden Daniels’ ribs
If anything happens to the rookie quarterback, Washington fans might never recover. Daniels clearly was not at full strength late in Sunday’s showdown against Caleb Williams and Chicago, although it didn’t keep him from throwing a 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown as time expired to lift the Commanders to another win. Daniels is second in the league in EPA per dropback (.25) and quarterback rushing yards (424). Last week: 8
Yahoo Sports(Schwab)
Lost in Hail Mary madness, the Commanders’ defense played pretty well. At one point in the fourth quarter, Caleb Williams completed 4 of 16 passes for 36 yards. Washington’s offense is good. If the defense keeps improving, the NFC East race will be a lot of fun. Last week: 8
USA Today(Davis)
Amazingly, a team led by a rookie quarterback (Jayden Daniels) is also on pace for 500 points – though Sunday was the first time it was held to fewer than 20 this season. Crucial stretch upcoming for the NFC East leaders, who will see all three of their divisional foes over the next four weeks. Last week: 10
Sporting News(Iyer)
The Commanders saw Jayden Daniels add to his already immense rookie legend with a Hail Mary to beat the Bears, but they’re not in position to win that game or many others without Dan Quinn’s work to make the defense look a lot more daunting. Last week: 9
WalterFootball
I almost marked down the Redskins for a loss. How could I forget about the Hail Mary? It was shocking to see Jayden Daniels make so many great plays. He wasn’t 100 percent, but this performance will add to his legacy. Last week: 9
Bleeding Green Nation(Gowton)
I’d say “it’s better to be lucky than good sometimes” but honestly the Commanders deserved to beat Chicago. The Hail Mary was actually a “ball don’t lie” moment considering Jayden Daniels outplayed Caleb Williams. Not to mention the Commanders outgained their opponent by 174 yards and turned the ball over less. For the first time in a very long time, the vibes in Landover, Maryland are very good. Last week: 8
Sharp Football Analysis
Last week: 8
#8
The 33rd Team(Mosher)
No team in the NFL is more fun to watch right now than the Washington Commanders. Even when all hope seems to be lost, they find a way to win.
That’s what happened on Sunday as Jayden Daniels delivered the play of the year, hitting Noah Brown on a game-winning Hail Mary touchdown pass. Sitting at 6-2, the Commanders are in a great spot to make a run to the postseason and win the NFC East. And with Daniels playing at an MVP level, this might really be their year. Last week: 8
New York Post(Dunleavy)
There’s magic brewing with rookie Jayden Daniels, who shook off a rib injury and a bad game to uncork a 52-yard Hail Mary that was caught for a touchdown by Noah Brown with no time remaining in an 18-15 win against the Bears. The Commanders led most of the way but fell behind with 25 seconds remaining. Last week: 8
Sportsnaut(Johnson)
Jayden Daniels for MVP. Yes, plenty of good fortune on that hail mary led to the Washington Commanders victory. However, the Commanders drafted Daniels in large part because of his phenomenal deep ball and elite athleticism. Those two skills made the difference in that game-winning play. Lost in this win, the Commanders defense looked good. Both of those things together make this a dangerous football team moving forward. Last week: 10
Pro Football Network(Rolfe)
- Offense+ Rank: 2
- Defense+ Rank: 20
- Special Teams Rank: 19
- SOS Rank: 30
This past week was always going to be an interesting test for the Washington Commanders as they faced one of the best defenses in the league. But the injury to Jayden Daniels meant we did not get a true glimpse of what they look like against a top defense. The biggest positive from the last-second win on Sunday was that the defense continued to show that it is a solid unit when not facing elite offenses.
It is easy to doubt the Commanders’ credentials when you think that they have played the third-easiest schedule in the league, but they have the ninth-easiest remaining schedule, so things do not get much harder from here. The defense is not incredible by any means, but they have done well restricting opponent scoring, allowing the 10th-most points per game this year.
The Commanders need to make sure they do not overlook the Giants this week, with the Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles looming on the horizon in Weeks 10 and 11. That Week 11 game with the Eagles is the first of two that could decide the direction of the NFC East. Last week: 8
#9
The Score
Washington’s defense played well against Chicago, but the team will need to do a better job of slowing down opposing QBs if it wants to be a Super Bowl contender. Through eight weeks, the Commanders’ defense ranks dead last in EPA/dropback. Last week: 8
#10
Bleacher Report
Jayden Daniels’ performance against the Chicago Bears is how legends are made.
It’s not just that Daniels played after missing most of last week’s game with a rib injury. Or that he threw for 326 yards and ran for 52 more. It’s that 52 of those passing yards came on a game-winning Hail Mary to wide receiver Noah Brown.
It’s a moment that makes stars into superstars—and Daniels told reporters he couldn’t even really see what happened.
“I just heard people screaming and our sideline rushing the field. That’s how I knew,” said Daniels. “That’s kind of like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Not too many people get to experience stuff like that.”
The even bigger story Sunday may be Washington’s defense. After some early-season struggles, the Commanders have been solid on that side of the ball as of late. They held Caleb Williams in check and allowed only 307 yards of offense.
Make no mistake: The Commanders aren’t a fluky 6-2. This team is for real.
Analyst’s Take
“Daniels can do it all. He can lead the NFL in completion percentage. He can lead all rookies in rushing yardage. He can overcome a rib injury and lead his team to victory even if it requires a miraculous Hail Mary to do so.
“Daniels is the no-doubt favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. With Williams, this year’s No. 1 overall pick, on the other side of the field, it became even more obvious who this year’s top option really is.” — Sobleski Last week: 9
NFL Trade Rumors(Woodie)
Four field goals and the most insane play of the season. The Washington offense struggled to finish drives all day until it mattered most. Daniels outplayed Bears QB Caleb Williams in the battle of the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the draft. Last week: 9
The Ringer(Lee)
Last week: 12
#12
Odds Shark
Last week: 9