Jayden Daniels' poise, preparation key to success on road - ESPN

ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, sitting on the bench, turned to a group of Detroit Lions fans heckling him Saturday, smiled and formed a heart with his hands. Washington had just been stopped on a fourth-and-1, and the Ford Field crowd was loud.

But all Daniels did, captured by WUSA-TV in Washington, was smile at them and form a heart with his hands and then deliver a 45-31 victory.

«I didn't really say anything,» Daniels said. «I kind of let my play do the talking.»

It's that mindset Washington hopes results in a trip to the Super Bowl as Daniels will be playing in front of a Philadelphia fan base considered one of the most hostile in the NFL. The Commanders and Eagles play at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Daniels also is trying to become the first rookie quarterback to lead a team to the Super Bowl; five others have reached the championship game and lost. Daniels said earlier this week he wasn't thinking about that, rather focusing on that day's practice.

Nor is he worried about playing in another intense environment. After all, Washington has won its first two playoff games on the road. In those games, Daniels has thrown four touchdowns and no interceptions. He has an NFL-best 86.9 quarterback rating for the postseason.

«He's locked in from the start of Quarter 1 to the end of Quarter 4,» Washington receiver Terry McLaurin said. «He stays as even-keeled a player I've ever been around. To have that demeanor as a rookie and then as a rookie quarterback, that's one of the things that makes him so unique.

»We've played in some of the most hostile environments, playing in some of the biggest stages, and he's treating it the same every week. I love that about him. That permeates throughout our team.…