Quinn stopped short of calling the win over the Eagles, who hadn’t lost since Week 4, a statement victory, preferring instead to call it a toughness win. A statement win, he said, would require the team playing “really well,” and there were times when the Commanders did the opposite.
A failed fourth-down try on the opening drive, plus a fumble on the opening play of the second offensive possession, led to the Eagles jumping out to a 14-0 lead. The loss of Jalen Hurts, who was ruled out with a concussion, didn’t seem to matter, as Kenny Pickett came in to replace him and threw a touchdown pass to A.J. Brown, who had eight receptions for 97 yards.
And yet, none of that seemed to phase Daniels, who wasn’t perfect, either, with two interceptions, both of which came at critical moments. Daniels was there to provide the plays that Washington needed, whether it was throwing a touchdown to Crowder or Olamide Zaccheaus, neither of which had scored a touchdown all season, or converting a fouth-and-11 with a 29-yard run. Against a team that was looking for the knockout punch to clinch the division, Daniels was providing hits of his own.
“I always believed that we could win the game, no matter what,” Daniels said. “The game’s never over till the clock hits zero.”
