Quarterback Jayden Daniels was clutch when he needed to be during the Washington Commanders' 21-6 win over the New York Giants, completing 19 of his 30 pass attempts for 233 yards and a touchdown. Here are some of his best throws from the afternoon.
1. Daniels airs out 34-yard pass to Chris Moore.
The Commanders needed a spark after their opening drive ended in six plays, and they found one from perhaps one of the most unlikely players.
Moore, who was elevated from the practice squad last Saturday, was lined up wide and to the right with the Commanders facing a second-and-4. Daniels' first option wasn't open as he rolled to the right, leaving the quarterback looking for other targets. He spotted Moore sprinting for the sideline and slung it in the veteran's direction, hoping Moore could snag it before stepping out of bounds.
It was a close call, but Moore managed to drag both feet and maintain possession before stepping out on the Commanders' sideline. The 34-yard completion was Daniels' longest of the day and helped give the offense some steam to get itself in position for another impressive throw from Daniels.
2. Daniels connects with Zach Ertz for a seven-yard score.
Six plays after Moore's 34-yard catch, the Commanders were in scoring position at the Giants' 6-yard line. It was their first red zone trip of the season, so of course Daniels went to his top target in that area of the field.
Ertz, originally lined up behind left tackle Laremy Tunsil, shuffled out to the left before Tyler Biadasz snapped the ball on a second-and-6. He ran an angle route, where the receiver runs at a sharp angle before choosing to stay inside or outside of the coverage player, to get open against Darius Muasau, who had just entered the game for an injured Micah McFadden.
Ertz made short work of Muasau and got enough space for a catch at the goal line. His connection with Daniels was one of the biggest contributors to the Commanders' success last season, and it looks like the two are still in sync.
3. Daniels finds Deebo Samuel for a 21-yard pickup.
Samuel needed to step up with Terry McLaurin being double covered for most of the afternoon, and he showed why general manager Adam Peters wanted to acquire him from the San Francisco 49ers.
Samuel led the Commanders with 77 receiving yards on seven catches, and one of his best came in the closing minutes of the second quarter. With the ball placed at midfield and the Commanders facing a third-and-11, Samuel lined up in the slot and sprinted downfield. The route he ran gave him some leverage against cornerback Dru Phillips, but it was still a tight window for Daniels as he let the ball fly.
But part of the reason the Commanders traded for Samuel was because he could fight through contact to make catches, and that's exactly what happened as he secured the 21-yard catch. The drive didn't end in points, but the fact that Daniels trusted Samuel in that situation shows how their relationship has grown since training camp.
4. Daniels zips a pass to Ertz for 11 yards.
Part of the reason why the connection between Ertz and Daniels is so strong is that Ertz knows how to find soft spots in coverage, and Daniels has the trust to give him the chance to make a play. A good example of that came in the fourth quarter, when the Commanders were trying to put the game away for good.
It was second-and-8 with the ball at the Commanders' 36-yard line. Ertz, lined up in the slot, ran about 10 yards through the middle of the Giants' defense between four defenders. The pass was slightly behind Ertz, but the tight end managed to haul it in for an 11-yard gain. It got the Commanders near midfield and kept the chains moving for what would turn into a nine-play, 80-yard touchdown drive.
