“Do not chase ghosts!” Jayden Daniels advised to keep it simple by Super Bowl losing league MVP
Jayden Daniels will face a formidable Detroit Lions as he looks to continue the Cinderella season his Washington Commanders are having.
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Cam Newton wants Jayden Daniels to be himself against the Detroit Lions (Image via Imago/X)
Jayden Daniels won the first playoff game of his NFL career when he defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now he and his Washington Commanders are preparing for the divisional round where they will take on the NFC leading Detroit Lions.
The Lions were touted as the best team in the league for much of the regular season. However, they did have some injuries towards the end. But they will get back star running back David Montgomery, making the offense as explosive as it used to be.
That means the onus will be on the Commanders defense to keep them in check. If they are unable to, the task will become tougher for Daniels as he has to keep scoring to avoid falling behind. The gravity of going up against the Lions saw former league MVP Cam Newton pass on some word of advice while on First Take.
Jayden Daniels, this message is for you. Do not chase ghosts. Do not worry about the intangibles, do not worry that you are playing one of the top teams in the NFL in the Detroit Lions. Do not (be) so caught up in the crowd. You cannot allow yourself to worry about things you cannot control.
Cam Newton said
Newton was speaking from experience of losing a Super Bowl. He added that the Lions are known to bully opponents. However, if the rookie quarterback can focus on getting his teammates going early, he would not have a problem.
"Jayden Daniels, this message is for you: Do not chase ghosts." 😤 @CameronNewton has a message for Jayden Daniels ahead of the Commanders' divisional matchup against the Lions 🙌 pic.twitter.com/8XA8AHzs2h
— First Take (@FirstTake) January 17, 2025
The ESPN analyst believes Jayden Daniels has a chance to cause a major upset. In order to do that, he has to stick to what made him and his teammates part of a good football team. Newton wants him to drown out the noise and be himself.
Jayden Daniels has a chance as an underdog
All season long, Jayden Daniels was seen as a revelation. His peers consider him a quarterback that is unfazed even if the going gets tough. If he can be that in the face of the pressure the Detroit Lions will bring, it will suit him well.
But he will also need to play to his efficient best if he has to move on to the NFC Championship game. The Lions defeat their opponents playing hard, efficient football. The former LSU star cannot hope to resort to his usual heroics alone.
Rather, if he keeps it simple, just like his 0 turnover 0 punt game against the Buccaneers, he will put his team in a position to win. The Commanders will take on the Lions at Ford Field. The game will kick off at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 18th.
Related: Patrick Mahomes doesn’t mind being the “villain” because of winning too much
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Joseph Varghese
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