Robert Griffin III captivated Washington, D.C., with an impressive rookie season in 2012, earning the title of Offensive Rookie of the Year and leading the team to the playoffs. However, his initial success doesn’t quite match that of the franchise’s current rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels. After a remarkable first month, Daniels has the Commanders off to their best start since 2011, as they gear up for a Week 5 matchup against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Washington, at 3-1, has won three consecutive games following a season-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In contrast, Griffin’s team started 2-2 that year.
Daniels, the second overall pick from LSU, expressed that he had no expectations for his first season. “For me personally, how much can I learn and keep going?” he reflected. At just 23 years old, he is emerging as a favorite for the same award Griffin won 12 years ago. His completion percentage of 82.1 is not only the highest in the league but also the best ever during a four-game stretch with at least 50 attempts. Although he has thrown only three touchdown passes—adding four rushing scores—the Commanders’ offense has thrived, averaging 30.3 points per game, which ranks third in the league. Remarkably, Daniels has led 23 scoring drives while only throwing 19 incompletions and has been intercepted just once in 106 attempts.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn noted Daniels’ strong work ethic in preparation leading up to games. “There’s no magic pixie dust,” Quinn said. “It is absolutely grinding, working, and a lot of confidence comes from that.”
On the other hand, Cleveland (1-3) has struggled offensively, scoring just 66 points all season and averaging the sixth-fewest points per game (16.5). Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy emphasized the need for the offense to synchronize. “If one person messes up, the whole play is messed up,” he stated. Last week, the Browns took an early 10-0 lead against the Raiders but faltered afterward, with a fumble return for a touchdown accounting for their only other points. Coach Kevin Stefanski stressed the importance of focusing on controllable factors to improve their performance.
Cleveland may soon get a boost from star running back Nick Chubb, who returned to practice after a season-ending knee injury last year. Chubb, a consistent 1,000-yard rusher, participated in a limited capacity. Other key players, including defensive end Myles Garrett and linebacker Jordan Hicks, missed practice due to injuries, while tight end David Njoku and running back Pierre Strong were limited. The Commanders also dealt with injuries, as running back Brian Robinson Jr. sat out practice, and Austin Ekeler was limited due to a concussion.
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