• Jayden Daniels is main the high-flying Washington offense with poise: Daniels completed 8-of-10 for 101 yards and an 81.2 passing grade on throws between the numbers in Week 4.
• A begin for the ages: The Commanders have averaged 0.315 EPA per play via the primary 4 weeks of the 2024 season, the second-highest mark by any group within the first month of a season since 1999.
• Unlock your edge with a PFF+ subscription: Get full entry to all our in-season fantasy instruments, together with weekly rankings, WR/CB matchup charts, weekly projections, the Start-Sit Optimizer and extra. Sign up now!
Estimated studying time: 4 minutes
In Week 4 in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals, Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders unleashed yet one more explosive offensive show, propelling the group to a commanding 3-1 begin to the season.
Washington’s offense has been one of many surprises of the season, because the group is placing up historic numbers via 4 video games — and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury deserves a ton of credit score.
The Commanders have averaged 0.315 EPA per play via the primary 4 weeks of the 2024 season, the second-highest mark by any group within the first month of a season since 1999.
Their streak of consecutive scoring drives (excluding kneel-downs) lastly got here to an finish on Sunday at 16, the longest such streak since 2000. Finally, and probably probably the most unimaginable statistic to date: Daniels has led the Washington offense on 23 scoring drives this season, which is greater than the variety of incompletions (19) he’s thrown.
Daniels had one other environment friendly efficiency and has now posted an adjusted completion share of over 90% in back-to-back video games. His fast launch and processing means had been absolutely displayed as he led this high-flying offense.
Daniels’ launch and arm power had been a few of his calling playing cards in school. And these out routes spotlight that.
This ball in all probability appeared like these outdated Nerf balls that whistled flying over the curl/flat defender pic.twitter.com/ouyBSTrfJ7
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) September 30, 2024
On the play above, the Cardinals dropped into a novel Cover-3, dashing three and dropping eight into protection. Daniels shortly recognized the sting dropping again into protection and knew it could disrupt the out path to Terry McLaurin. But after seeing the cornerback flip his hips to hold the seam, Daniels anticipates the opening and fires the ball earlier than McLaurin even makes his break.
You make a mistake as an beneath defender and Daniels is making you pay each single time pic.twitter.com/osncL8pifO
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) September 30, 2024
On this play, Washington primarily had two open receivers, and usually, the quarterback can be anticipated to hit the shorter curl. However, Daniels anticipated that the deeper curl can be open — and with the Cardinals once more solely dashing three, he knew he’d have the time to make the throw. He was appropriate, and when the shallow route drew one beneath defender and the opposite dropped too broad, Daniels hit one other chunk play.
One of the largest questions popping out of faculty was how nicely Daniels might constantly assault the center of the sphere. So far, he has handed that check with flying colours. On throws between the numbers, Daniels went 8-for-10 for 101 yards and earned an 81.2 passing grade on Sunday. For the season, his 77.9 passing grade on such throws ranks ninth within the NFL.
My favourite throw from yesterday. Daniels will get to the bottom of his learn after a fast little reset within the pocket and rips a dart to McCaffrey pic.twitter.com/ATNudblz26
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) September 30, 2024
In the play above, Daniels initially didn’t just like the “Hank” idea to the quick facet of the sphere and shortly acknowledged that with man protection, the spacing idea on the opposite facet would supply the reply.
He calmly reset and fired a missile to Luke McCaffrey for a giant acquire on second-and-15. The incontrovertible fact that he might get to the bottom of his learn so effectively in opposition to a five-man rush in simply his fourth NFL begin is extremely spectacular. Successfully and constantly attacking the center of the sphere is a transparent signal of a quarterback in full management.
On the Commanders’ two-point conversion to go up 21, Daniels showcased his anticipation in attacking the center of the sphere once more.
Can Jayden Daniels constantly hit anticipatory throws over the center of the sphere? pic.twitter.com/XtOiiQpxHw
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) September 30, 2024
On this play, Washington ran a mesh idea in opposition to zone protection within the pink zone. Daniels learn the play low-to-high, beginning with the beneath crossers after which working up.
As anticipated in opposition to zone protection, the crossers had been coated, so Daniels seemed to the following stage. He shortly recognized that the security, chasing the beneath crosser, wouldn’t have the ability to flip in time to choose up Zach Ertz in the back of the finish zone.
Daniels threw the ball with good anticipation, releasing it nicely earlier than Ertz cleared the defender, and linked for the rating to place the Commanders up by three touchdowns, successfully sealing the sport.
At the second, it appears like nobody has a solution for Daniels, Kingsbury, and this explosive Washington offense. However, defenses at all times catch up within the NFL, and Washington should adapt.
The key distinction is that the Commanders seem to have discovered the franchise quarterback they’ve sought for many years in Daniels.