GLENDALE, Ariz. — Brian Robinson Jr. appeared shocked by his emotional state as an earnest smile crossed his face.
The third-year operating again skilled postgame pleasure all through his profession on the College of Alabama. The highs have been extra fleeting and buried beneath quite a few failures within the execs. The 2022 final-month collapse value the Washington Commanders a playoff berth. Final yr’s season-ending eight-game shedding streak led to a number of jobs misplaced.
The skid continued this season with a 17-point opening-game loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that highlighted the considerations projected with this crew. But Robinson, a hard-nosed power-back schooled by Nick Saban, stood inside a virtually empty visiting locker room at State Farm Stadium, processing the return of a long-lost feeling.
“I do know I’m actually displaying lots of pleasure with profitable,” Robinson stated. “, simply to let folks know, it’s enjoyable to win, man.”
Certainly it’s.
Minutes earlier, as rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and teammates bounded off the sphere, it was clear Robinson wasn’t the one one sorting by means of their feelings following Washington’s dominant 42-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
GO DEEPER
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Proper guard Sam Cosmi and others have been greeted enthusiastically by members of the possession group and basic supervisor Adam Peters exterior the locker room. Cosmi, one of many holdovers who handled relentless chaos in recent times, bear-hugged minority companion Mitchell Rales. Being embraced by the sweat-covered lineman tasked with holding Daniels’ jersey clear didn’t faze Rales, a lifelong burgundy and gold fan.
As soon as contained in the locker room, booming roars have been heard behind closed doorways. Coach Dan Quinn’s postgame message included the announcement of, for now, a single recreation ball. “There’s one (motherf—er) who isn’t leaving with out one,” Quinn stated earlier than bellowing the primary identify of his offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury.
“Kliff!” screamed Quinn earlier than a profitable handoff to the previous Cardinals head coach, who delivered a stellar recreation plan that put Daniels in positions for fulfillment. The Commanders dominated the Cardinals in yards (449 to 296), first downs (29 to 17) and on the scoreboard.
“Coming again going through his former crew,” Daniels stated, “I do know it meant quite a bit to (Kliff).”
…KLIFF!!!!!!!@budlight | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/74IA9wRGCW
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 29, 2024
The executor of Kingsbury’s imaginative and prescient is the primary proprietor of the group’s new-found enthusiasm. Daniels, the No. 2 choose in April’s draft, has already flashed sufficient high-level expertise to create the kind of “what-if” situations star quarterbacks engender. Daniels, who has the finest completion proportion (82.1) by means of 4 video games in NFL historical past, completed 26-of-30 for 233 yards and a landing go.
Daniels additionally scored his fourth speeding landing in 4 video games. Touchdowns on the primary two drives — speeding scores by Robinson and Jeremy McNichols — prolonged Washington’s streak of consecutive possessions with factors to 16. Robinson had 101 yards on 21 carries. McNichols, changing the injured Austin Ekeler (concussion), had landing runs of 27 and seven yards and 74 complete yards.
The quarterback did throw his first profession interception on a go to Terry McLaurin that sailed a bit. Daniels stated there was no sideline dialogue with coaches in regards to the turnover, a testomony to his prowess. He later hit McLaurin for a 10-yard landing.
JD5 ➡️ SCARY TERRY
📺 #WASvsAZ FOX pic.twitter.com/Uk5SzmnSvd
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 29, 2024
Stats alone don’t precisely inform Daniels’ wonderful skilled begin. No matter is thrown the rookie’s method, like a seven-point deficit earlier than touching the ball for the second consecutive recreation or an avalanche of consideration after his Monday evening explosion, is definitely swatted away.
“The child is particular,” stated tight finish Zach Ertz, who relished the victory over the group that launched him final yr after three seasons with the Cardinals.
Daniels had his reunion this previous week. He started his school profession at Arizona State, beginning three years earlier than transferring to LSU. The Commanders additionally practiced on the Tempe campus all through the week. No matter recollections got here speeding again, Daniels, because the case on the sphere Sunday, by no means appeared harassed or anxious.
“I knew there have been some additional tales being right here again at ASU,” Quinn stated. “Very like Kliff, you’ll by no means have identified that.”
Nevertheless, one revelation emerged within the one-sided win. Daniels, it seems, isn’t flawless. For the second consecutive recreation, he was rattling shut. Extra notably, for the primary time in 4 video games, Daniels didn’t must be.
The Commanders’ protection throttled Kyler Murray, sacking the shifty quarterback 4 instances. After Murray’s landing go to rookie sensation Marvin Harrison Jr. on the sport’s opening drive, the Cardinals failed to attain once more till James Conner’s speeding landing with 11 seconds remaining within the third quarter.
On a fourth-and-1 at Washington’s 35 inside the ultimate minute of the primary half, defensive finish Dorance Armstrong got here off the sting to sack Murray. “He held the ball for a minute,” stated Armstrong, who had 1 1/2 sacks.
The particular groups unit contributed instantly by forcing a fumble on the opening kickoff, although Arizona recovered it. Kicker Austin Seibert made two discipline objectives to stay good since becoming a member of Washington earlier than Week 2. Then there’s Tress Approach. The longest-tenured participant on the roster had not punted since Week 1. After a uncommon three-and-out by the offense, Approach whacked a 51-yard kick.
He additionally had his foot stepped on whereas operating to rejoice with the protection unit. “I felt like I obtained to expertise (the sport) once more with a bit ache, a bit pleasure and, lots of enjoyable,” stated the punter. “However it is a actually good time.”
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Washington can produce well-rounded wins. Who knew? The gamers and coaches who spent weeks practising and fine-tuning their craft had religion. They witnessed each day the calm vibe and dynamic playmaking which have grow to be Daniels’ hallmarks whereas different rookie passers are laboring.
“Not shocked,” stated linebacker Bobby Wagner, one in all Washington’s high defenders who didn’t play within the preseason. “We knew we had a crew, and we had the gamers. Simply needed to put it collectively.”
Final week, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. stated his group is “not enjoying the model of ball that we wish.” This can be a honest analysis since Washington ranked final in third-down conversion proportion allowed, and Cincinnati scored 33 factors with out punting or committing a turnover. Whitt continued with a revealing assertion that got here true on Sunday.
“We’re nearer than folks suppose,” he stated.
The subsequent spherical of league-wide and native subjects will embody the place this Washington story goes now. Daniels’ ceiling is limitless. The protection confirmed it’s able to being a viable companion. The Commanders’ division rivals every have their very own curious storylines.
Wagner, a 13-year veteran, isn’t able to challenge. He’s seen groups go weeks with out shedding, solely to crash by season’s finish. However he additionally acknowledges one thing is occurring with this group. The rookie quarterback has a lot to do with the never-easy activity of profitable.
“It’s onerous to win,” Robinson stated. “Coming off a nine-game shedding streak could be very, very, very rocky. To get again on the upswing … it feels good.”
(Photograph: Christian Petersen / Getty Pictures)
