Jayden Daniels has had an astonishing rookie season that will definitely be remembered, especially after his dramatic Hail Mary touchdown throw last week helped the Washington Commanders secure a comeback victory over the Chicago Bears.

This season, the Commanders feel destined for greatness. It’s tough to ignore this sentiment following their exciting comeback and the unforgettable touchdown they scored.

Daniels was a fortunate find for the Commanders, who picked him at No. 2 in the 2024 NFL draft—similar to how his Hail Mary pass was tipped and landed perfectly in receiver Noah Brown’s hands to clinch the win.

Daniels was already a frontrunner for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. He’s also in contention for NFL MVP. Furthermore, the Commanders have emerged as frontrunners to take the NFC East division. But let’s go even further as we kick off our NFL overreactions for Week 8 at YSL News:

Commanders Will Make It to the NFC Title Game This Year

We’re not quite ready to call them Super Bowl contenders yet, but the combination of Daniels, head coach Dan Quinn, and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury seems to be creating something special in Washington.

Daniels is displaying impressive accuracy, sitting second in the NFL with a completion rate of 71.8%. He also excels at extending plays, averaging 8.4 yards per pass attempt—ranking fifth in the league. His performance is underscored by a QBR of 72.7, placing him again in the top five. Remember, he’s still a rookie.

The Commanders are becoming a resilient squad, buoyed by Daniels, one of the league’s top rushing attacks, and a strong defense that is playing with renewed urgency since his arrival.

Get ready for a potential matchup between Washington and the Detroit Lions in the NFC championship game later this year.

NFC West Just Became More Compelling…

Surprisingly, it’s not the San Francisco 49ers or the Los Angeles Rams leading the NFC West at the end of Week 8. Instead, it’s Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals, who pulled off a 28-27 victory over the Miami Dolphins last week.

The Cardinals, 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks are all sitting at 4-4, while the Rams trail at 3-4. Each team is gradually finding its rhythm. However, the Cardinals’ early victories against the Rams and 49ers have already proven beneficial for the division standings.

Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. rekindled their connection with an impressive six catches for 111 yards and a touchdown, helping the team overcome a 10-point deficit to defeat the Dolphins.

The 49ers are trying to manage without key players like Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk, while the Rams have recently welcomed back Cooper Kupp and Puka Nukua.

Expect at least three teams from the NFC West to compete for playoff spots moving forward, including the Cardinals, who are seeking their first division title since 2015.

AFC East Is Interesting As Well… In Some Respect

While the New York Jets are on a five-game losing streak, their season isn’t completely over. There are still nine games left to witness the chaotic journey that Aaron Rodgers and his team are navigating, now under an interim coach and falling short of expectations.

Even after scoring over 20 points and committing no turnovers, while restricting the New England Patriots to under 250 yards of offense, the Jets ultimately lost 25-22 last week.

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills are comfortably at the top of the division with a 6-2 record, watching the chaos unfold beneath them. The Dolphins sit in second with a 2-5 record, followed by the Patriots at 2-6, and the Jets, also 2-6, in last place.

As for the second-place battle, it will only heat up from this point on – at least, that’s the hope. However, it’s hard to envision any team from this division besides the Bills making the playoffs.

Russell Wilson Could Enter the MVP Discussion

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been 2-0 since Russell Wilson took over as the starting quarterback from Justin Fields, now holding a 6-2 record post-Week 8. Surprisingly, they are leading the AFC North after the Baltimore Ravens stumbled against Jameis Winston and the Cleveland Browns.

The Steelers clearly appreciate Wilson’s ability to throw the ball downfield, an area where Fields struggled despite his impressive athleticism. Wilson’s knack for scoring has made it easier for the defense, led by sack specialist T.J. Watt, to finish games effectively.

In his two starts against the Jets and New York Giants, Wilson has completed 63.2% of his passes (36 out of 57) for a total of 542 yards, with three touchdown passes. If Wilson sustains this performance, he may enter the MVP race alongside Daniels, Lamar Jackson, Jared Goff, and Patrick Mahomes.

The Steelers and Ravens are set to finish the season at the top of the AFC North and be formidable opponents in the playoffs—except for the Kansas City Chiefs, of course.