Jayden Daniels: Two Point Attempt "Right Call" in Commanders Loss

The failed two point attempt is the first dose of heartbreak for the Washington Commanders after comeback efforts fell short in the final minute in a 24-22 loss against the Eagles in Philadelphia.

With wide receivers Stefon Diggs, Terry McLaurin and Antonio Williams on the field and running back Rachaad White in the backfield, quarterback Jayden Daniels stuck with the option to shovel to tight end John Bates. With no time to react, Bates was swarmed by the Eagles' defensive line behind the line of scrimmage in a play that had no chance from the start.

"I saw penetration. That was the one usually that blows up any play down inside," head coach Dan Quinn said postgame. "It's a good play down in the redzone. People come up field seeing Jayden get out on the edge to go. When you shovel it back inside, [there's] usually some space to go."

Daniels noted in his postgame press conference that White was an option to throw to, which may have been a possibility to find the endzone with a one-on-one opportunity on the outside. Still, it was not a walk-in touchdown as some have claimed with the Eagles matching numbers on the outside.

After Daniels noted it was the "right call," he and head coach Dan Quinn pointed to execution as reason for the failed attempt in their postgame press conference.

"Anything Blough calls, man, I'm with him," Daniels said postgame. "Regardless, however everybody else might want to view it, man, I'm with Blough 100%."

Yet there was also reason the Commanders had their hand played at the end.

Undrafted free agent Drew Stevens proved his length strength after his 54 yard field goal gave Washington an early lead after the opening series, but that was negated in the second quarter. Running back Bill Croskey-Merritt punched in the Commanders' first touchdown of the season, but it led to a short-lived celebration after Eagles' defensive tackle Jalen Carter blocked the ensuing extra point to send both teams into halftime with Philadelphia ahead, 14-9.

Stefon Diggs punched in his first touchdown as a Commander in Washington's first score of the fourth quarter as head coach Dan Quinn confirmed the offense planned to go for two points, but those plans were derailed after the veteran was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct for hugging the goalpost. Washington instead sent out the field goal team for the extra point with the offense staring at a daunting two point attempt to cut the deficit to 17-16.

The second fourth quarter touchdown materialized with just 61 seconds left after rookie Antonio Williams reeled in an impressive catch that he controlled, yet hit the ground that replay review confirmed was a clean catch. That may be the positive from a deflating ending after Williams' 64 receiving yards led the team while tying Diggs for a team-high four receptions. Yet in a game where miscues loomed large, eliminating the mistakes ahead of the second consecutive divisional matchup now looms larger.

Washington will now stay on the road to face the Dallas Cowboys in week two with kickoff set for 4:25 PM ET.