ClutchPoints
It’s time for the Washington Commanders to mull over what went wrong against the Eagles. And they must struggle with the loss of a Cinderella season. But looking forward to 2025, here is how Jayden Daniels ranks among quarterbacks after his standout rookie season.
With a tremendous regular season and three impressive playoff games, Daniels thrust himself into the elite conversation among NFL quarterbacks. He threw for 3,568 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions while leading the Commanders to the playoffs. He also rushed for 891 yards and six scores.
In the playoffs, he dialed in for 822 yards passing in three games with five touchdowns and only one interception. The pick came late in the fourth quarter when the Commanders fell into desperation mode. Also, Daniels led Washington to its first NFC Championship game in 33 years.
Here’s the ranking of NFL quarterbacks heading into the 2025 season:
Yes, he fell short of a Super Bowl trip, but Allen won the playoff battle against the other quarterback in the mix for this spot. He fell short of topping Patrick Mahomes in the AFC Championship game, but it came in a game of inches. Literally. Did Allen get that first down in the fourth quarter? History will say no.
Allen didn’t make excuses, according to buffalobills.com, which is another reason he remains at the head of the quarterback class.
“You can either get it done or you can’t and we didn’t get it done,” Allen said. “They’ve ended a lot of teams’ seasons too. It’s a good squad, they had a good plan tonight, and again they made one more play than we did.”
Allen said the loss hurt, according to espn.com.
“It’s not fun. But to be the champs, you’ve got to beat the champs, and we didn’t do it tonight,” Allen said.
But this will make him hungry again. And dangerous in 2025. Both of those apply to Daniels as well. Allen will be coming off a 28-to-6 interception-to-TD ratio. And he also scored 12 touchdowns on the ground, giving him 27 over the past two years. His ability to score rushing touchdowns sets him slightly apart from Daniels and …
Numbers don’t lie, and Jackson’s 41-to-4 pick-to-TD ratio couldn’t have been much better. He also flashed his typical wheels with 915 yards rushing and four scores. So he matches Daniels at each turn.
And there’s still time for him to have more playoff success, according to baltimoreravens.com.
“Lamar Jackson’s playoff record after seven seasons is the same as Peyton Manning’s at the same point in his career,” Clifton Brown wrote. “Manning eventually won two Super Bowls. Don’t believe that Jackson is running out of time. He’s not, and he’s still getting better.”
Some people have dinged Jackson for his playoff turnovers. But Ravens coach John Harbaugh defended his star quarterback, according to baltimoreravens.com.
“It’s...
