PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jayden Daniels ran out of time to rally for one more can-you-believe-it comeback. The rookie quarterback who led the Washington Commanders to six consecutive victories entering the NFC championship game had won the first five on the final play of scrimmage. All Daniels could do on the final play Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles was watch the green confetti fly.
Washington's bid for its first Super Bowl appearance since the 1991 season ended with a thud, doomed by three fumbles that led to 21 points and cost them in a 55-23 loss . Daniels wanted to see the defeat through, even if that only meant handing off the ball on the final meaningless drive. Coach Dan Quinn had seen enough and gave Daniels a breather.
His bid to become the first rookie QB to reach a Super Bowl was officially over. “He has rare competitiveness that makes him unique in a lot of ways," Quinn said. ”I love inside how he can stay into this space in the toughest environments.
It hurt him to come out at the end. He wanted to stay in. I said that’s my call.
But that’s the competitor. Honestly, he’s just kind of wired in that way.” Daniels still has enough time to complete the biggest comeback of ‘em all — he can finish Washington’s resurgence that made football meaningful again to scores of fans that lost hope under former owner Dan Snyder with an eventual Super Bowl trophy.
Against the Eagles, Daniels was forced to trudge off the field in defeat, outplayed by fellow.
