Even fairytales meet their final chapter, and for the Cinderella Commanders, that chapter was a 55-23 nightmare authored by the Eagles. No glass slippers, no magical endings—just Philly’s relentless dominance. But hold on, Washington fans, don’t close the book just yet. Jayden Daniels, the Commanders’ new franchise face, isn’t treating this as a tragedy. He’s calling it a beginning.

After the game, Daniels took the mic with fire in his voice and a chip on his shoulder. “I don’t ever want to have this feeling again,” he declared. Bold words, but here’s the thing—he meant every one of them. For a rookie, this wasn’t just a loss. It was a blueprint for his return.

In the face of defeat, Jayden Daniels stood tall—well, maybe not in the stat column (255 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), but in heart and leadership. Football’s a team game, sure, but when your squad’s heartbeat is under center, you know you’ve got something special brewing.

And you can bet that the owners know what was on the specials menu. Even in the sting of a loss, the ownership group showed up, right there in the trenches with their players. Their message for Dan Quinn’s boys? “Helluva season. We love you guys. We’re just getting started.” It wasn’t just about consolation; it was about belief—belief that this season wasn’t a peak, but the foundation for something bigger.

Maybe that relentless camaraderie took a little edge off, but it’s also why they got this far.

A lot of that belief is tied to head coach Dan Quinn. This season, Quinn proved he’s not here for the football. Well, that was obvious… But he’s here to shape a culture. So, what does he do? Builds a team and makes the fans fall in love with the Commanders all over again.

As for his praise for Daniels, Dan knows a QB can make or break the team’s O… Not just that, but a team’s winning chance (to some extent) depends on the guy as well. And that’s why Quinn never missed a beat to praise his rookie as he said before the Eagles’ game: “He stays locked in, he stays focused. The success comes from the work he puts in.”

Yes, the Eagles beat the Commanders, but they didn’t break them. This season was supposed to be a rebuild season, right? A-grade rebuild with a tinge of record-breaking Daniels for the future as well. So, the league better beware. As he said: He’s NOT DONE!

Don’t expect Jayden Daniels to cool down in 2025

Jayden Daniels walked into Sunday’s NFC Championship game with a chance to break records—and he didn’t waste time. His very first drive? A 3-yard pass to Zach Ertz followed by a 7-yarder to Olamide Zaccheaus. Boom, record broken! With that throw, Daniels surpassed Russell Wilson’s rookie playoff passing record of 572 yards, set in 2012. The best part? He still had the whole game ahead of him.

But records don’t win titles, and the Eagles made sure to remind him of that. After Washington’s methodical 18-play opening drive ended in a field goal, the Eagles unleashed their arsenal. Saquon Barkley ran wild for 118 yards and three touchdowns. Jalen Hurts? He didn’t just throw for one—he ran in three more himself, bad knee and all. The final score? A 55-23 blowout that sent Philly soaring into the Super Bowl and left Washington’s Cinderellas in the dust. Yeah, at this point, they were all in dreamland. So were we!

For Daniels, though, this wasn’t just about one game. His rookie season has been nothing short of spectacular. Let’s talk numbers: a 12-5 regular season record, 25 passing touchdowns, 6 rushing touchdowns, and a cool 69% completion rate. He didn’t just play; he led. And while he fell short of the Super Bowl, he now shares the rookie win record—14—with Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger. Not bad company to keep, right?

Even NFL greats took notice. Former Steelers coach Bill Cowherd said Daniels had “a lot more put on his plate than Ben did” during his rookie campaign. That’s high praise, especially when you’re being compared to a Hall of Famer. Daniels didn’t just survive the pressure; he thrived in it.

So what’s next for Jayden Daniels? More of the same, but better. Come 2025, the Sophomore year, the fans will have sky-high expectations. Sure, you can talk about the Sophomore Slump. But so far? The signs only show records and accolades, and the poise he showed this season suggests he’s not just a rookie sensation—he’s built for the long haul. Although the Eagles eliminated Washington this year, trust Daniels to lead them back (and take them further). This kid isn’t cooling off anytime soon.