In a season filled with record-breaking moments, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has once again etched his name into the NFL history books.

During Sunday’s night game against the Atlanta Falcons, Daniels broke the league’s single-season rushing record for a rookie quarterback, surpassing the 815-yard mark set by former Commanders Robert Griffin III in 2012. Griffin’s record stood for over a decade, achieved in 15 games, while Daniels reached the milestone in his 16th.

Daniels’ record-breaking moment came in the fourth quarter, with a 7-yard run that brought his season total to 820 yards. He finished the night leading Washington in rushing, tallying 85 yards on 10 carries, including a 25-yard keeper up the left sideline in the third quarter.

This performance against the Falcons was Daniels’ third consecutive standout game on the ground, following 66 rushing yards against the New Orleans Saints and 81 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles in previous weeks.

The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner has been the engine driving the Washington Commanders offense all season, redefining what it means to be a dual-threat quarterback.

His ability to extend plays with his legs has kept defenses guessing and has been instrumental in the Commanders’ playoff push. Sunday’s 30-24 victory over the Falcons secured Washington first postseason berth since 2020.

Daniels’ historic season is a testament to his relentless work ethic and skill set. His dual-threat ability elevated the Commanders’ offense and set a new standard for rookie quarterbacks. Teams have struggled to contain his multifaceted game, and his record-breaking performance is the latest chapter in an impressive NFL debut.

With the playoffs on the horizon, Daniels’ leadership and playmaking abilities will be crucial as the Commanders aim to make a deep postseason run. For now, his record-breaking performance is a shining example of how he’s transformed the quarterback position in Washington and left a permanent mark on the league and the city in his rookie year.

Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2024 season.

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The Washington Commanders were 4-13 last year and “earned” the No. 2 overall pick in the draft which they used on LSU QB Jayden Daniels. Fast forward 8 months and the Commanders have officially clinched a spot in the playoffs.

They needed a win against the Atlanta Falcons tonight, and they got it. Washington could have clinched earlier if the Buccaneers lost, but that didn’t happen, and they had to take care of business at home to secure their future in the playoffs. They started off hot with an interception that led to a touchdown, but they let Atlanta score 17 unanswered points. The second half was a different story, and Washington won 30-24.

Washington also got some help from the Minnesota Vikings earlier in the day. Their win over the Green Bay Packers slides the Commanders into the 6th seed. The Commanders and Packers are both 11-5, but Washington holds the tie breaker in conference wins. If Washington loses and Green Bay wins next week, they will take the 6th seed back, but that is the only scenario where the Commanders aren’t the 6th seed in the NFC playoffs.

The Washington Nationals had a handful of young players take over in 2024. However, without wins to show for it, it might be hard to consider this year a success.

Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer recently took a look at each team’s past year, namely the 2024 season and the ensuing offseason months, to find a grade for a final report card. For the Nationals, it was an underwhelming ‘D’ mark.

They finished last season 71-91. Since then, they have gained Nathaniel Lowe for the offense and Michael Soroka for the pitching staff.

The good part of the year was obviously the young guys on the roster making strides and showing flashes of potential in their debuts.

Three starting pitchers that will have major roles last season have less than two years of service time: Jake Irvin, Mitchell Parker and DJ Herz.

Parker and Herz in particular came out of nowhere to become consistent starters. Neither pitcher was considered a top-20 prospect before the season. While they weren’t All-Stars or anything, they had flashes and overall solid debut campaigns.

They also have seemingly found the outfield of the future with James Wood, Dylan Crews and Jacob Young all standing out in their own ways.

Wood had the best year of the bunch with a .264/.354/.427 slash line with 9 home runs and 14 stolen bases in 79 games. He has real potential to become a consistent 20/20 threat.

Crews’ first crack at MLB pitching did not go over as well, but he also still had three home runs and 12 stolen bases in just 31 games.

Young is the furthest away at the plate, but is already an elite defender, which earns him a bit of grace with his underwhelming bat.

The bad part of the year is that they still seem to be a ways away from being serious contenders and they haven’t done much to capitalize on their young talent this offseason.

Soroka and Lowe weren’t bad additions at all, but look more like stop gaps than longterm answers.

Waiting for their young players to develop is fine, but they will need to spend money at some point. It would be nice to see them be a bit more aggressive in free agency in the future.

A ‘D’ grade might be a little harsh for where they are at right now, but they do still seem on the path to being a bottom-level team next year as well.