A penalty and a long kickoff return put Washington at its own 43-yard line, but Daniels carried it most of the rest of the way. He completed 4 of 5 passes on the final drive (with a spike to stop the clock) for 33 yards and two runs for 14 more, hitting Crowder for the 9-yard TD with six seconds left. The Eagles’ kickoff return was close and Washington achieved its first 10-win season since 2012.

“When you give him moments, he really shines in those spots,” Commanders head coach Dan Quinn told reporters after the game.

Daniels first showed signs of his late-game magic in a fourth-quarter comeback against the Giants in Week 2. He reached another plateau with his Hail Mary against the Bears in October, a game Daniels wouldn’t even play with a rib injury. Then on Sunday, in the Commanders’ biggest game to date, Daniels delivered again in the crucial minute.

“Today he became a heavyweight,” Quinn said. “He really did.”

Daniels actually had to lead the Commanders back twice in the fourth quarter, hitting Olamide Zaccheaus for two touchdowns to give Washington the lead with nine minutes left before the Eagles regained the lead. Interestingly, both Zaccheaus and Crowder each caught two touchdown passes in the game. Both players started Sunday with no touchdown receptions.

For the game, Daniels completed 24 of 39 passes for 258 yards, five touchdown passes and two picks. He also ran for 81 yards on nine carries. Daniels is just the third QB to have five or more TD passes and 75 or more rush yards in the same game, joining Lamar Jackson (twice in 2019) and Cam Newton, who did it once in 2015.

The statistics are impressive. But Daniels said he most appreciates having the game on the line and the ball in his hands. The fact that his late loss of the ball made the comeback more difficult motivated him even more.

“I love situations like this,” Daniels said. “… (The game is) on thin ice and plays have to be made. This is what you live for if you really love this sport, you play for the big moments when the end matters.”

“Everything is against you until the end, your back is against the wall, how will you react?”

Of course, with a game-winning drive and another thrilling victory. Daniels became known for this early in his career.