LOVERRO: Daniels keeps Commanders in the fight against Ravens

BALTIMORE — Yes, the Washington Commanders lost 30-23 to the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.

Yes, they got run over by Derrick Henry, who had 132 yards on 24 carries.

Yes, Lamar Jackson picked them apart, completing 20 of 26 passes for 323 yards.

But that kid, that rookie Washington quarterback.

When Jayden Daniels steps on the field in big moments — in this case, trying to bring his team back from a 27-13 Baltimore lead going into the fourth quarter — you just believe this 23-year-old can win the game for you.

He didn’t. I get it. They lost.

But they had their shots to win, and with a defense that really suffered from the remnants of the disastrous Ron Rivera regime in this game — and with Washington’s version of Derrick Henry, Brian Robinson Jr., sidelined with a knee injury – they had no business going toe-to-toe with the Ravens.

Still, there they were, even with two defenders inactive because the team felt putting cornerback Emmanuel Forbes and linebacker/defensive end Jamin Davis on the field would have damaged them.

This defense is not good enough to have two No. 1 picks as spectators. But it has Daniels.

“They (Baltimore) are Super Bowl contenders in the AFC championship game last year but it is very promising that we were able to be in this type of game,” he said.

“As lopsided as it felt, we were still in the fight at the end … it was a really important game for us to be in,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said.

They believed they were in the fight because Daniels, who competed 24 of 35 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns, including a remarkable throw to Terry McLaurin on fourth and goal in at the beginning of the fourth quarter to cut the Baltimore lead to 27-20, has instilled that belief.

“In those moments, he is really strong and really comfortable in those spots,” Quinn said of his star quarterback. “The whole team feels that.

“There is a lot of belief, and it came, that belief, from a lot of the work that he’s done,” he said. “In those spaces, that’s one of his real strengths. Fortunately for us, as a young player, you normally wouldn’t count on that, building to that spot. But because he has real command in that space, the players do have a lot of faith in him.”’

After six NFL games, you typically wouldn’t count on a rookie quarterback creating that level of confidence through the roster. That’s the marvel of Daniels. Even in a loss, the narrative is about his ability to transform a game.

“With him, I always feel we are in the fight, because sometimes he might just make a play outside the pocket with his legs,” Quinn said.

That was hard to do Sunday without Robinson, their workhorse who had run for 325 yards in five games with five touchdowns. His presence only enhances Daniels’ running opportunities, and vice versa.

Washington has just 52 yards rushing — Daniels had six carries for 22 yards, Austin Ekeler had nine carries for 21 yards and Jeremy McNichols had nine yards on two carries. Chris Rodriguez, who they activated from the practice squad, did not have any carries.

They lost the ability to hold onto the ball because of their lack of a running game. Baltimore had a huge time of possession advantage – 36:08 compared to 23:52 for Washington. “The game was a little lopsided with time of possessions,” Quinn said.

Washington is now 4-2 and still in first place in the NFC East. They head back to Northwest Stadium next week to face Carolina Panthers, and if Sunday’s turnout at M&T Bank Stadium is any indication, the Commanders may enjoy their greatest home-field advantage in recent memory.

Washington fans made their presence felt in Baltimore. They were loud visitors, and many of them were wearing Daniels’ number jerseys. The crowded Ravenswalk pregame was filled with Daniels jerseys and Jackson No. 8 jerseys.

Both quarterbacks held up their end Sunday. They are a double-shot of merchandising power and football magic.

• You can hear Thom Loverro on The Kevin Sheehan Show podcast.