Jayden Daniels Reveals Commanders New Identity In Shocking Upset Over

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 17, 2025, 9:07 AM

jayden daniels reveals commanders new identity in shocking upset over

The Washington Commanders had one of the best days in franchise history on Saturday, going to the NFC Championship for the first time in 33 years. The Commanders found a way to not only make franchise history, but NFL history in their 45-31 upset over the Detroit Lions in the Divisional Round. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels came into the game red hot after posting 268 yards and two touchdowns on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card Round. Daniels' electric play continued into the Divisional Round, as he posted 299 yards and two touchdowns on one of the NFL's best defensive units. Daniels' four touchdowns ties Mark Sanchez's rookie record for most ever by a rookie during a playoff run. Daniels' 567 passing yards is third behind Russell Wilson's 572 and Brock Purdy's 569.

Daniels is guaranteed one more game, so it looks likely that Daniels will hold the crown for both marks after the NFC Championship. Daniels' 654 yards of total offense is the most in a playoff run by a rookie quarterback since 1969, surpassing Wilson's 651. The Commanders came to play on both sides of the ball, the defense forced five turnovers from the Lions' offense. Mike Sainristil had two interceptions, Quan Martin had a 40 yard pick-six, Frankie Luvu recovered a Jared Goff fumble, and Jeremy Chin had a game-clinching interception. Jayden Daniels has had a rookie season one could have only dreamt of. He led the Washington Commanders to a 12-5 record and made the playoffs.

They then defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card Round and have now pulled off arguably the biggest upset in recent seasons. Daniels led the Commanders to a stunning 45-31 win over the Detroit Lions, knocking the NFC’s first seed out of the playoffs. The Lions were a huge favorite coming into this game, and their Super Bowl aspirations were ended by a rookie quarterback who plays like he has been in the NFL for several years. In the win against the Lions, Daniels threw for 299 yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers, completing 70.9% of his throws with a passer rating of 122.9. He also rushed for 51 yards on 16 carries and showed composure throughout the game as his team going 3-of-4 on fourth downs was the biggest reason behind their win. Daniels was rightly praised on social media by the fans, with many claiming him to be the best quarterback in the NFC, gaining comparisons with other elite quarterbacks along the way.

It’s safe to say the Bears picked the wrong QB https://t.co/biwKeFys1h Logging what will be by far the biggest upset of the weekend, the Washington Commanders took down the Detroit Lions on Saturday night—knocking the NFC's one-seed out of the NFL playoffs. The 45-31 victory for Washington not only sends them to their first NFC championship game since 1992, but also has rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels joining some rare company. Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, will become just the sixth rookie quarterback in NFL history to play in a conference championship game. Here's a look at the full list:

The 24-year-old shined on Saturday in Detroit, completing 22 of 31 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 52 yards on 15 carries while leading the Commanders offense to 38 points. Now locked into the NFC championship game, Washington will take on the winner of Sunday's matchup in Philly between the Eagles and the Rams in Philadelphia. As the sixth seed, the Commanders will be on the road regardless—with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 p.m. EST next Sunday. It’s time to stop calling Jayden Daniels a rookie because he delivered a superstar performance to send his Washington Commanders to the NFC championship game.

Seven months after becoming the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft, Daniels led five touchdown drives in the divisional round of the playoffs to outpunch the No. 1 scoring offense in the NFL, leading the Commanders to a shocking 45–31 road victory against the Detroit Lions. Daniels’s poise flashed on clutch fourth-down conversions and sensational downfield shots. But the Commanders’ defense also did its part by forcing Lions quarterback Jared Goff into four turnovers, allowing Daniels to build a comfortable lead in the fourth quarter. It was a disappointing performance all around from the NFC’s No.

1 seed, especially on the defensive side. Now they’ll get to watch Daniels and the Commanders in the NFC title game as they await the winner of Sunday’s matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles. Washington advanced to the NFC title game for the first time since 1991. Here are the key points that decided the outcome of the game. Former LSU quarterback and Heisman Trophy winnerJayden Daniels is moving on in the NFL Playoffs. Daniels led the Washington Commanders in an upset win over the Detroit Lions.

The sixth seeded Commanders notched a 45-31 victory in a game that they were double-digit underdogs. "We prepared the right way," Daniels said following the win. " We put in the work to get to this point now. I love this team." Against a well-rounded Detroit defense, Daniels passed for 299 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 51 yards. After being down by four heading in the second quarter, the Commanders blew the game open with 28 points, putting them ahead to stay.

With the win, the Commanders advance to the NFC Championship game. They will play the winner of Sunday's divisional game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams. The winning team will host the Commanders and play for the chance to represent the conference in the Super Bowl.

Jayden Daniels Reveals Commanders New Identity In Shocking Upset Over

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