Commanders aim for season sweep of division rival Giants
Players and coaches around the league use plenty of buzzwords to describe their six divisional games each year. Physical and intense come up a lot.
Players and coaches around the league use plenty of buzzwords to describe their six divisional games each year. Physical and intense come up a lot. But the Washington Commanders used a different phrase ahead of Sunday’s tilt with the New York Giants: fun.
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and coach Dan Quinn both said they’re looking forward to facing their division rival.
The Week 2 matchup between the NFC East foes, a 21-18 victory for the Commanders, was anything but fun. Washington limped to victory without scoring a touchdown, instead relying on a franchise record seven field goals from kicker Austin Seibert.
That was seven weeks ago, though.
The 6-2 Commanders of Week 9 said at practice this week that they’ve grown exponentially since the September showdown with the Giants.
The numbers back them up. Through the first two games of his NFL career, Daniels had yet to throw a touchdown.
Then he broke out.
The Commanders’ offense has put on a show since its inert Week 2 performance, orchestrating a hyperefficient display that has drawn comparisons to the St. Louis Rams’ Greatest Show on Turf from the turn of the century. Washington has scored on 60% of its drives this season, the best rate in NFL history through eight games of a season.
Daniels has thrown for 1,326 yards and seven touchdowns in his six games since facing the Giants. The offensive explosion has catapulted the No. 2 draft pick to the front of the Rookie of the Year race and into MVP conversations.
“He can throw it under pressure. He can escape and make plays with his feet. He can escape and make plays with his arm. He’s got good command, which we knew,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said of Daniels this week. “He makes good decisions.”