WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Fans in the District could not stop talking about Sunday night’s wild ending as the Washington Commanders defeated the Chicago Bears, 18-15.
“Never any doubt. Jayden Daniels is our guy,” said Alex Joyce, among the fans at Exiles Sports Bar in Northwest.
The victory improved the Commanders to a 6-2 record for the season so far.
“Now that he’s here, we can actually win games, feels like its a rebirth of the organization,” Joyce said.
Daniels started the game after a rib injury forced him from last Sunday’s win against the Carolina Panthers.
“I’m a little nervous because I have PTSD from the RGIII era when he started, and he shouldn’t have, and he ended his career. But it’s a big game, so I understand the importance of him starting. I’m just a little nervous,” said Chelsea O’Hanlon, another fan glad to see the rookie quarterback on the field.
Daniels has led Washington to the top of the NFC East, and his performance has grabbed the attention of even non-Washington fans.
“He’s an excellent young talent, and I can feel the energy of the city. Everyone’s so excited,” said Philadelphia fan Steven Towers.
However, Daniels is not the only reason fans had to be excited Sunday.
D.C. native and Gonzaga College High School graduate Caleb Williams played his first game in the DMV since the Chicago Bears made him the overall number-one pick in this year’s NFL Draft. Williams has led the Bears to a 4-3 record.
“He’s exceeded expectations,” Towers said. “I think he’s living up to the hype of the Heisman,” Towers said of Williams, who won the 2022 Heisman Trophy. Daniels followed, winning the award last year.
Both players went first and second in the draft. Sunday’s game marked the sixth time in NFL history that quarterbacks picked first and second in the draft faced off as rookies.
