Washington QB Jayden Daniels did what only two other rookie QBs have ever done when he won a second playoff game by upsetting the Lions in Detroit, 45-31. Prior to Daniels triumph only the Baltimore Ravens’ Joe Flacco in 2008 and the New York Jets’ Mark Sanchez in 2009 had accomplished that feat. Their playoff runs came to an end in the AFC Championship at the hands of Pittsburgh and Indianapolis, respectively. Both the Ravens and the Jets relied on rugged defenses and asked Flacco and Sanchez to just avoid turnovers and manage the game. The Commanders reliance on Daniels is much greater. He is the straw that stirs Washington’s drink. Can he become the first rookie QB in NFL history to take his team to the Super Bowl?

Speaking of avoiding turnovers, the four teams left in the playoffs are +15 turnovers and have yet to give the ball even once. Correspondingly, the teams that have been eliminated have turned it over 15 times and have yet to receive a turnover subsidy. In the divisional round, the Commanders were +5, the Buffalo Bills were +3, and the Philadelphia Eagles were +2. The Kansas City Chiefs did not receive any turnover subsidies from Houston, but the Texans failed on two field goals and missed a PAT. That will get you beat too.

Baltimore’s loss was the most frustrating. “Every time we’re in a situation like this, turnovers play a factor,” star QB Lamar Jackson said to Ravens’ beat writer Jamison Hensley after the 27-25 loss in Buffalo. “Tonight, the turnovers, we can’t have that shit. That’s why we lost the game, because as you can see, we were moving the ball wonderfully. Hold onto the fucking ball. Sorry for my language, but this shit [is] annoying. I’m tired of this shit.” The coaching stats support Jackson. Baltimore was infinitely productive, averaging more than 10 yards per pass attempt. The Bills averaged just over 5.7 yards per pass attempt and generated modest 2.42 player productivity. But Buffalo ran the ball well enough to limit Baltimore’s opportunities on offense and, as often happens in the NFL, the combination of limiting a better designed and more productive opponents’ opportunities combined with 3 takeaways was just enough to win.