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We could probably lead the Rookie Report with Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels every week, but Sunday’s showdown between Daniels and Bears quarterback Caleb Williams had an incredible finish well worth revisiting.
A Hail Mary game-winning throw like Daniels’ 52-yard touchdown to Noah Brown is exceedingly rare, and even more so from a rookie quarterback. To look for any touchdown pass of 50-plus yards in the final 30 seconds of a game, you have to go back almost exactly 25 years, to Halloween 1999, another year with a flurry of quarterbacks at the top of the draft.
That pass was a 56-yard touchdown from Browns rookie Tim Couch to receiver Kevin Johnson — much the same, as a final heave that bounced off a group of players and was caught for the come-from-behind victory. You can watch a clip here, complete with the original call by the late Jim Donovan, who passed away this week.
Daniels’ heave is the longest touchdown throw by a rookie quarterback this season, breaking his mark of 41 yards to receiver Dyami Brown. Who caught the longest touchdown pass thrown by a rookie last year? That would be Noah Brown, who caught a 75-yard pass from C.J. Stroud with the Texans last season for that honor as well.
Speaking of Stroud, he’s the only rookie quarterback ever to throw more passes than Daniels in his first eight starts and have fewer interceptions. Stroud had an amazing 14 toouchdowns against one interception this time last year, while Daniels has seven touchdown passes against two interceptions. His 71.8 completion percentage is the best ever in a rookie quarterback’s first eight starts, and only Brock Purdy and Deshaun Watson have had a higher passer rating than Daniels’ 104.3.
One of the best ways Daniels can emulate Stroud this season is by leading his team to the playoffs as a rookie. At 6-2, the Commanders are a half-game up on the Eagles atop the NFC East, but still must play Philadelphia and Dallas twice each in their final nine games.
Who will be…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/commanders-qb-jayden-daniels-hail-mary-first-by-rookie-25-years
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Publish date : 2024-10-29 20:53:28
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