One by one, vanquished Giants sang Jayden Daniels’ praises.
“He’s impressive,” Brian Burns said after Commanders 27, Giants 22. “The game has already slowed down for him to a certain extent. He seems very poised. He seems like he’s in control.”
“He’s gotten very comfortable real quick with the game,” Dexter Lawrence said. “He did a good job evading the pressure.”
Malik Nabers exchanged in a little fun-loving banter with his Heisman Trophy-winning LSU teammate.
“A little banter back and forth,” Daniels said. “Nothing crazy. But, just got respect for those guys, obviously, throughout the draft process. You build relationships with the guys over there. It’s nothing but love. Obviously, they drafted one of my best friends, so it’s a little bit fun to play New York twice a year.”
It’s a little bit fun for him beating New York twice a year during what looms as an Offensive Rookie of the Year season.
“He leads his team to win,” Nabers said. “He’s gonna do that every time he steps on the field.”
Daniels (15-22, 209 yards, 2 TDs, 35 yards rushing) makes wow throws every week, and this time there were six seconds remaining in the half when Daniels hit Terry McLaurin with a back-shoulder 18-yard TD.
“We had no timeouts and 11 seconds left,” Daniels said. “It was either Terry’s going to catch the ball or it’s going to be an incomplete pass, and we kick a field goal.”
There was also a flick of the wrist and an accurate 31-yard bomb to Noah Brown with a pair of Giants right there.
“Just the work throughout the week that I see those guys put in, the timing that we have, and just building that bond, that trust over the weeks,” Daniels said.
The Giants could not sack him.
“Knowing where to go with the ball and getting the ball out helps out a lot,” Daniels said. “But, tremendous job by the offensive line of using their fundamentals and giving me enough time to get the ball off.”
Daniels showed no effects of his rib injury.
“I feel good right now,” he said. “Week by week, but I feel good. It’s something that has got to progressively get better.”
Asked what has impressed him about his rookie season, Daniels said, “I don’t know. I still have some ways to go. I’ll sit back and reflect after my rookie year is done.”
The first-place Commanders are 7-2.
“Got to live in the moment,” Daniels said. “This could be all good. We have a game next week. But, I’m just happy for the fan base that could be proud of something and the product that we’re putting out on the field.”
