There are some things that you can’t exaggerate.
The power of the sun.
The soul of Otis Redding.
The rookie NFL season of Jayden Daniels.
The Washington Commander quarterback took his unprecedented act to MetLife Stadium Sunday and showed no signs of wilting under the bright lights of East Rutherford, N.J.
He was as great as he needed to be, completing 15 of 22 passes for 209 yards and two touchdown passes to the happiest man on earth, receiver Terry McLaurin. He’s seen the darkness, lived through the cold, felt the pain that defined this franchise before Daniels arrived.
“I just thank God that I’m in this position, to be able to have the patience and endurance to see the other side of everything,” he told Fox Sports leaving the field. “It’s nothing short of a blessing. I don’t take these days for granted.”
The power of the sun.
Daniels also ran for 35 yards on eight carries, leading Washington to a 27-22 win over the New York Giants and staying on top of the NFC East with a 7-2 record.
An impressive performance, indeed, one in a series by Daniels this season. But what makes it almost unearthly is zero interceptions for his fourth straight game. He has thrown 228 passes this year, completing 163 of them for 1,945 yards and just two interceptions.
We’ve seen years in Washington where that was just a quarter stat for the quarterback.
The intelligence and poise are what make Daniels extraordinary.
Oh, have I written that before? Does this sound like other columns I’ve written so far this season? You’ll have to forgive me. It’s sort of like a review of a Springsteen show. When exceptional is consistent, pound the exceptional.
Coach Dan Quinn was asked after the game what impresses him the most about his rookie quarterback. He could have answered, “Whatya got?
Instead, he said this: “The poise and the decision making, for a quarterback to really have the regard for the football and the decision-making process. He is playing the position well, not just throwing it well. When do I hand it, when do I give it, how do I use the clock, getting down to slide (this could use a little work). Those things and seeing him growing and getting stronger … that to me is one of the things I’ve been most impressed about, playing the position and all that goes into that,
“The work ethic, he’s always captured that,” Quinn said. “That doesn’t get unnoticed by me.”
Neither by his teammates, who have come to revere their young leader.
“He’s as mature a rookie as I’ve ever been around,” said tight end Zach Ertz, who has played in the league for 12 years. “There’s not a play Jayden goes out there and doesn’t have answers.”
Daniels’ opponents appear to be just as impressed.
“He’s gotten very comfortable real quick with the game,” said Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who came into the contest leading the league in sacks with nine and came up empty Sunday, as did the rest of the New York defense. “He did a good job evading the pressure.”
There was one answer that Daniels gave coming off the field in his Fox Sports interview that yet impressed me once again.
“It’s not easy to play a division opponent on the road, so I’m proud of this win,” Daniels said.
It’s not particularly earth-shattering or compelling. It’s something that many of us have probably said a number of times watching this league. But for a rookie, it shows a presence of mind and the moment.
This is not a solo act. I get it. The offensive line was outstanding Sunday, protecting Daniels and paving the way for 149 yards rushing. Quinn has built a culture that has standards and expectations, and the players use it in their language to describe what has happened with this team. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has put Daniels in the position to succeed with his play-calling (treasure him while you can — Kingsbury will likely be a hot head-coaching candidate this offseason).
But they are planets revolving around Daniels, who may be on his way to becoming the brightest star in the NFL.
Too much? You should hear me after I’ve listened to Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness.” I get this way when I’m blinded by the sun.
• You can hear Thom Loverro on “The Kevin Sheehan Show” podcast.
• Thom Loverro can be reached at tloverro@washingtontimes.com.
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