Man, talk about a wild return to the field. Jayden Daniels, the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, made his comeback Sunday after that left elbow injury, and he led the Washington Commanders to a 27-27 tie against the New York Giants. What a result for a guy who hadn’t played since Week 2, especially when you remember he was sidelined for the Commanders’ Week 3 upset of our Seattle Seahawks.
The Daniels Comeback: Record-Setting But Messy
Daniels had been nursing that left elbow, an injury that first popped up in a Week 2 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. That kept him out for our Seahawks game and their Week 4 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. He even missed a chunk of last season with a similar issue, so seeing him back out there with a brace on his elbow was a sight. The Commanders, sitting at 1-3, were somehow 3.5-point favorites against the 3-1 Giants, even in the rainy conditions at Northwest Stadium. Talk about pressure right off the bat!
Daniels wasted no time showing flashes. On the very first drive, he connected on passes of 11 and 23 yards to tight end Chig Okonkwo. Running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt then ripped off a 33-yard rushing touchdown. Kicker Drew Stevens missed the extra point, which felt like a bad omen early, but he later made two field goals, giving Washington a 9-3 lead at halftime. After the Giants cut it to 9-6 with another field goal in the third, Daniels responded with a dynamic 38-yard touchdown run. The dude was doing it all!
Things got a little dicey when Giants QB Jameis Winston looked like he threw an interception at the goal line, only for Commanders cornerback Amik Robertson to get hit with a controversial pass interference call. Three plays later, Winston tossed a one-yard touchdown to Isaiah Likely, making it 19-13. But Daniels wasn’t done. He capped an impressive eight-play, 81-yard drive with his second rushing touchdown of the day, a 26-yard scamper. Get this: Daniels actually accomplished something no NFL quarterback had done in 24 years with those two rushing scores!
A Blown Lead and a Bonkers Finish
After Daniels hit Terry McLaurin for a two-point conversion to make it a 14-point lead, you’d think the Commanders were in the clear, right? Nope. This game went absolutely bananas. The Giants immediately answered with Winston hitting Likely for a 17-yard score, cutting the lead to 27-20. That play was initially ruled a fumble recovered by Washington, but review showed Likely broke the plane. Talk about a momentum shift!
After forcing a Washington punt, the Giants kept up their offensive onslaught, tying the game 27-27 with just 1:43 left in regulation on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Winston to Malik Nabers. Overtime. Of course, it went to overtime. In the extra period, Daniels scrambled, setting up what looked like a potential game-winning field goal. But they couldn’t spike the ball before time ran out. Just like that, a tie. A 14-point lead evaporated, and Daniels’ big comeback ended in a stalemate. What a finish!
What’s Next for the Commanders After That Rollercoaster?
So, Daniels put up 199 yards passing, 0 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions on 17-of-25 attempts, plus 103 rushing yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. Jacory Croskey-Merritt added 82 rushing yards and a touchdown. Chig Okonkwo had 4 catches for 60 yards. Daniels’ return was packed with individual highlights, including that incredible 24-year first for a QB. But that tie, after blowing a 14-point lead and failing to spike the ball, just leaves you scratching your head. For a team that upset our Hawks, seeing them struggle to close out a game, even with their star QB back, definitely makes you wonder what could have been in Week 3. You just gotta wonder how that impacts their 1-3-1 start and their overall momentum after such a chaotic Week 5.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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