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Jayden Daniels Reacts to Dan Quinn’s Controversial Call: ‘I Still Trust the Coaches’ | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats and Rumors
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Jayden Daniels Reacts to Dan Quinn’s Controversial Call: ‘I Still Trust the Coaches’ | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats and Rumors

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 14: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders passes against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on November 14, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Even though the play broke down, Washington Commanders Jayden Daniels had no problem with head coach Dan Quinn’s decision to take a chance on fourth down midway through the fourth quarter in the 26- 18 on Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Daniels told reporters after the game, he trusts Quinn and the coaching staff to make the right decisions that put the team in the best position to win.

“I trust the coaching staff and the decision they made,” Daniels said. “I’m still part of, ‘Hey, let’s go.’ I trust my teammates. I trust the unit. So I always trust the coaches, I never question them.

The play occurred with 8:02 left and Washington at the Eagles’ 26-yard line facing a fourth-and-2 trailing 12-10. Daniels bounced the snap, disrupting the timing of the play, and he was tackled by Zack Baun before he was able to turn the corner to get the first down.

There’s an argument that the Commanders scored a field goal at that point. A successful attempt would have given them a 13-12 lead, but the Eagles would have possession with nearly eight minutes on the clock to score a field goal of their own.

Few teams are better equipped to put together a long drive that takes seven minutes late for a potential game-winning field goal than the Eagles because of what they can do in the running game with Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley.

Analytics said a field goal was the right move for Washington in this situation, but it wasn’t a strong recommendation.

4th Down Decision Bot @ben_bot_baldwin

—> WAS (10) @ PHI (12) <---
WAS was 4th and 2nd at PHI 26, Q4 08:01
Recommendation (MEDIUM): Field goal attempt (+2.1 WP)
Actual play: J.Daniels right side pushed out of bounds at PHI 26 for 0 yards (Z.Baun). pic.twitter.com/jknWgEUNMD

A Commanders touchdown on that drive would have gotten the Eagles into the end zone. Washington almost certainly would have gone for two points to extend the lead to 18-12, so Philadelphia also would have had to convert an extra point after getting a touchdown to take the lead.

The commanders were one of the best fourth down teams in the NFL this season. They converted each of their first 11 attempts and were 11 of 12 on Thursday night.

If Daniels doesn’t make the snap, he may have had enough time to get around the defense for a first down to continue the drive.

Instead, the Eagles were able to make a stop. Their offense needed just five plays to go 74 yards and extend the lead, capped by Barkley’s 23-yard touchdown run.

Daniels’ first pass on the Commanders’ next drive was caught, leading to another Barkley touchdown two plays later that sealed the victory.

The Commanders have lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. They’re still in the playoffs with a 7-4 record, but they fell from the second seed before Sunday’s games to the final wild card team in the NFC after losing to the Eagles.