Daniels' return ignites Washington. Don't let their record fool you; this electrifying QB can flip the script against the Vikings.
It’s official. Jayden Daniels will be starting for the Washington Commanders against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, and that is significant. When he’s healthy, he’s undoubtedly one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, the kind of player who can flip the entire feel of a matchup with just a handful of plays.
Sure, this is a Commanders team that has struggled tremendously and sits at 3-9 on the season. They’ve lost seven games in a row entering this weekend. On the surface, that looks like a straightforward spot for Minnesota, especially with the Vikings at home. But records can be misleading this late in the year, particularly when a team is getting its most important player back.
At this stage in the season, there’s a real case that Washington is a better overall football team than the Vikings when Daniels is active. His mobility, off-script creativity and willingness to challenge defenses vertically adds an element the Commanders simply haven’t had during this stretch. It also raises the floor of everyone around him, from the pass catchers who benefit from extended plays to the run game that gets lighter boxes when defenses have to respect his legs.
The Vikings, meanwhile, have their own set of questions. They’re still trying to stabilize the quarterback position. Justin Jefferson, one of the best receivers in the league, has looked visibly frustrated at times in what has been, by his standards, a down year. The defense has shown a tendency to give up chunk plays and allow games to turn into track meets.
So while a casual glance at the standings might suggest Minnesota should be comfortable, this is not that kind of game. With Daniels back at the helm, don’t underestimate the Commanders simply because they’ve been stuck in the loss column for two months. This should feel more like a dogfight than a mismatch.
In a vacuum, you might expect a home team with the better record facing a seven-game skid to be a heavy favorite. Given the Vikings’ circumstances and the impact of Daniels’ return, it’s more likely a one-score battle that comes down to late execution, a handful of explosive plays and which quarterback can create when structure breaks down.