Commanders' Ekeler praises Daniels for 'huge clutch gene'

Commanders running back Austin Ekeler praised quarterback Jayden Daniels after his terrific performance against the Detroit Lions helped Washington advance to the NFC Championship Game.

"He's so poised and so clutch," Ekeler said postgame Saturday, according to ESPN's John Keim. "Every week, I'm like, man, this guy is really good. I know to expect it, but again and again he continues to show that, hey, he has a huge clutch gene, and it shows up all the time."

The rookie signal-caller racked up 350 total yards and two touchdowns with a 122.9 passer rating in the divisional round. Washington's offense dominated the contest, scoring five touchdowns and one field goal while only punting once on nine possessions.

Washington put up 31 points in the first half, the most for any team in the opening two quarters of a playoff game in the last five years, according to The Ringer's Sheil Kapadia.

The Lions' defense struggled to contain or get pressure on Daniels. Against the blitz, the 2023 Heisman winner completed 12 of 16 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown, according to Next Gen Stats. Detroit went the entire contest without recording a sack.

"I knew Jay was ready, Day 1," running back Brian Robinson said. "I knew he was ready not only for everything, all the great stuff he's done this year, but to have himself prepared for the playoffs and the big-time moments."

Daniels made history Saturday, tying Ben Roethlisberger for the most wins by a rookie quarterback in a season with 14. He will become only the sixth first-year signal-caller to start a conference championship game since 1970.

It will be 12,068 days between conference championship games for Washington when it faces the winner of next weekend's Rams-Eagles divisional round contest, breaking the longest drought in the NFC.