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Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels gave a staunch defense of his coaches in the wake of the overtime debacle that cost Washington a chance at a win against the Giants on Sunday.
Daniels, 25, spoke with reporters on Thursday and took the blame for what happened, saying that he has to “be aware” in situations like that.
“Don’t even put it on the coaches,” Daniels said. “I’ve got to be aware, more aware, go out there and manage the game right. And I did not do that. So it doesn’t matter what happens on the sideline between the coaches or anything like that. I’ve got to notice everything that’s happening and make sure that we’re in the right situation with the football game.”
The Commanders were well within field goal range in the waning seconds of overtime when Daniels ended up scrambling. Then, a lackadaisical effort to get back to the line of scrimmage led to time running out — without a chance at a potential game-winning kick.
Daniels insisted that his role is the “person on the field supposed to calm everything, control everything” and that he is “better than that.”
The Commanders have faced plenty of criticism since the botched overtime.
The tie moved the Commanders to 1-3-1, and they’ll try to put the ugly sequence behind them when they face the 49ers on “Monday Night Football.”
Daniels understands the criticism and said everyone has the right to their own opinions.
“It’s just about my process and moving forward and learning from it,” he said.
The Commanders quarterback delivered that message to his teammates at an offensive team meeting on Monday, assuring his guys that “it’ll never happen again.”