Despite the Commanders’ dismal recent history against Daniel Jones and the New York Giants, hope is abundant this week in the Beltway – for three simple reasons.
Dan Quinn is not Jack Del Rio, Saquon Barkley is on another NFC East roster and Jayden Daniels showed plenty of promise last week at Tampa Bay.
Jones is 5-1-1 in seven career starts against Washington, including 3-1-1 with a 92.5 passer rating against Del Rio as Washington’s defensive coordinator (2020-23). In four career meetings against new Commanders head coach Dan Quinn (all as Dallas defensive coordinator), Jones is 0-4 with a 62.0 passer rating.
Barkley, who signed with Philadelphia this offseason, has 794 career rushing yards against Washington, more than any opponent. And as for Daniels, as offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said Friday, the quarterback has intangibles coaches can’t coach, even the ability to overcome bad play calls.
“The competitive spirit. I think just to watch how he continued to fight, especially at the end,” Kingsbury said. “I called one of the worst plays I’ve ever called in my entire career, and he just took the ball and ran into the end zone. And it was like he was not gonna be denied there on the goal line, and it says a lot about him in that situation.”
That situation, Kingsbury added, is indicative of Daniels’ desire for the ball in his hands, something that excites coaches and fans alike. But the quarterback’s play is gaining the most respect from his teammates.
“I think every day he gains more and more credibility in the locker room with his work ethic,” Kingsbury said, “his attention to detail, and then the competitive spirit is as good as I’ve ever been around.”