PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers will have their toughest test yet on Sunday when they take on the red-hot 7-2 Washington Commanders and rookie sensation Jayden Daniels.
Daniels, who’s the front-runner for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, has completed 163 of 228 pass attempts for 1,945 yards and nine touchdowns, with just two interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 106.7 in nine games.
“This is a 5-star matchup. We know that they’re a good team,” Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. said on NFL Network. “We’re going into their building and it’s gonna be a tough environment for any other football team. But I feel like the coaching that we’ve been through and the situations that Coach Tomlin put us in, this is going to just be another Sunday for us, and we just gotta show up and play football. But Jayden Daniels, he been putting great, great stuff on tape. He’s coming in hot. Him and his coordinator got a great understanding of how to make the offense run through him as a rookie. And I can’t say nothing but good things about how he’s been playing.”
Daniels has also been lethal in the running game, racking up 459 yards and four touchdowns.
“Lightning in a bottle. He will make you pay,” Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward said of Daniels.
“That offense is pretty special. They don’t turn the ball over a lot. I think they have like what, three or four turnovers? Having Brian Robinson, having Austin Ekeler, Jeremy [McNichols] and then having a big receiver in Terry McLaurin, that alleviates a lot of stress. But you can’t take anything away from what Jayden Daniels is doing right now. Successful in college, came in doing the same thing. It’s with throwing, running, he knows how to make it happen. And I think the thing that really sticks out is just his poise.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin also raved about Daniels during his weekly Tuesday press conference.
“It doesn’t matter what tape you put on. His mobility is a major factor … it is something to be reckoned with,” Tomlin said.
In points per drive, the Commanders rank first in the NFL. Washington is also third in the NFL in scoring (29.5 points per game), third in total offense (396 yards per game) and third in rushing (166 yards). New offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has had a profound impact on the unit.
The Commanders run by far the most no-huddle offense (333 plays) and Daniels is completing 70.2% of his passes in no-huddle.
“There’s a lot that has impressed me about the young guy,” Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Ausitn said. “He’s really calm in the pocket, he does not panic. He creates space, he moves around and creates targets. … He has really good command in what they do. I think so far he’s doing wonderful for them and we are going to have our challenges with him.”
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.