
After upsetting the Detroit Lion this past weekend, the Washington Commanders are set to take on the Philadelphia Eagles next weekend in the Commanders’ first Conference Championship appearance since 1991!
While the Washington Commanders have had one of the most electric seasons in franchise history this year, they have had some incredible record-breaking performances during the regular season that led them on this astonishing post-season run.
Let’s take a moment to revel in the incredible season the Commanders have had thus far to put into perspective just how impressive their play has been since week, so here are some astounding stats from this season (so far)!
1. Best performance by a team following a complete franchise overturn in NFL history
Despite the incredible circumstances that led to most of the NFL’s top analysts writing off the Commanders as a serious playoff contender this year, the Commanders finished the season with twelve wins (most since 1991) and only five losses.
Here are a few of those circumstances we’re referring to:
- New Owner
- New GM
- New Coach
- Rookie Quarterback
- Led league in off-season free agency signings (26)
- The lowest amount of returning players from the 2023 season of any team in the NFL
2. Elevated performances from returning cast and new signings
This year everyone on the roster, both those returning from last year’s squad and those who were signed in the off-season, performed at a consistently high level!
Here is a noteworthy stat regarding the success of our team’s top performers:
- Commanders’ top eight tacklers this season were newly signed free agents who were scouted and added to the team over the off-season.
3. Record-breaking rookie season from star QB Jayden Daniels
After being the second-worst team in the NFL last season, the Commanders managed to secure the #2 pick in the 2024 draft, which they used to select Jayden Daniels, the 2023 Heisman-winning quarterback from LSU.
The rest, seemingly, is history…
Here are just a few franchise and NFL records Daniels has had so far during his tremendous rookie season:
Franchise Records –
- Passing Yards by a Rookie QB:
- Record: 3,568 yards.
- Previous Record: 2,734 yards by Robert Griffin III (2012).
- Passing Touchdowns by a Rookie QB:
- Record: 25 touchdowns.
- Previous Record: 20 touchdowns by Robert Griffin III (2012).
- Most Rushing Yards by a QB in a Single Season:
- Record: 891 yards.
- Previous Record: 815 yards by Robert Griffin III (2012).
- Total Touchdowns by a QB in a Single Season (Passing + Rushing):
- Record: 31 touchdowns (25 passing, 6 rushing).
- Previous Record: 27 touchdowns by Sonny Jurgensen (1967).
- Fourth-Quarter Touchdown Passes in a Single Season:
- Record: 12 touchdowns.
- Previous Record: 9 touchdowns by Kirk Cousins (2015).
- Game-Winning Drives in a Season:
- Record: 5.
- Previous Record: 4, achieved by multiple quarterbacks.
- Most Total Yards in a Single Season by a Rookie QB:
- Record: 4,459 yards (3,568 passing, 891 rushing).
- Previous Record: 3,447 yards by Robert Griffin III (2012).
NFL Records –
- Touchdown Passes in the Fourth Quarter/Overtime by a Rookie:
- Record: 12 touchdowns.
- Previous Record: 9 by Justin Herbert (2020).
- Touchdown Passes in the Final 30 Seconds of Regulation or Overtime:
- Record: 5.
- Previous Record: 3, set by several quarterbacks.
- Most Rushing Yards by a Rookie QB in the NFC:
- Record: 891 yards.
- Previous Record: 815 yards by Robert Griffin III (2012).
- Clutch Passer Rating (Fourth Quarter/Overtime):
- Record: 138.6 passer rating in clutch situations.
- Previous Record: No rookie has ever surpassed a 130.0 passer rating in these ‘clutch’ scenarios.
- Dual-Threat Efficiency (Passing + Rushing):
- Record: First rookie QB in NFL history to post 3,500+ passing yards and 800+ rushing yards in a single season.
- Third-Down Conversion Rate in Clutch Situations (Rookie QBs):
- Record: 67% success rate.
- Previous Record: No rookie QB since 2000 had surpassed 60%.
- Playoff Wins by a Rookie QB for the Commanders:
- Record: Two wins (first rookie QB in franchise history to have one).
- Combined Offensive Yards in a Rookie Season (Rookie QB):
- Record: 4,459 total yards.
- Previous Record: 4,336 yards by Justin Herbert (2020).