NFL Power Rankings: Jayden Daniels has sparked the Commanders’ ascension to the top of the NFC

The Washington Commanders travelled to New Jersey last Sunday to complete their sweep of the New York Giants. Their offense neutralized their highly rated defensive line, and did it without starting RB Brian Robinson Jr. who was a pre-game scratch with a hamstring injury. Jayden Daniels played his second game after sustaining a rib injury early in Week 7. The rookie of the year looked good in another efficient outing that saw him throw two touchdowns to Terry McLaurin.

Washington has some tests coming up as people still question whether they are legit contenders after their massive organizational overhaul. They made a big trade for former Saints CB Marshon Lattimore, and are preparing for the Pennsylvania crawl, with games against the Steelers and Eagles in a 10-day stretch.

Washington is now 7-2, and they still have sole possession of first place in the NFC East. FanDuel had them at 6 1⁄2 wins before the season started, and that over hit for a lot of optimistic Commanders fans after they swept the Giants. Washington is still not the favorite in the division, despite having one more win(and game played), than Philadelphia. The Eagles look like the Commanders only competition for the NFC East division title, and the two teams won't meet until a Week 11 Thursday Night Football game in Philly.

High: 3

Low: 11

Average: 6.0

Fox Sports(Brooks) Jayden Daniels has sparked the Commanders' ascension to the top of the NFC with his superhero-like performance as a dual-threat playmaker. In Week 9, he had 244 total yards and a pair of scores in a workmanlike effort that pushed Washington to its best start since 1996. If Dan Quinn can continue to build the defense into a borderline elite unit, the Commanders could surprise as the dark horse in the NFC race. Last week: 5

Clutch Points(Johrendt) No Hail Mary was needed this time for the Washington Commanders, as they held on late over the New York Giants on the road. Two scores from Terry McLaurin led the way on offense, with Jayden Daniels only needing to throw for 209 yards in the win.

The defense sacked Daniel Jones twice and forced a fumble in the win, as the Commanders now move to 7-2 on the year, giving them a one-game lead in the NFC East over the Philadelphia Eagles. Last week: 3

CBS Sports(Prisco) Jayden Daniels continues to roll up big numbers as he stays a legitimate MVP candidate. This team is for real as they ready to face the Steelers this week. Last week: 6

Pro Football Talk Another big test comes this weekend, when the Steelers come to town. Last week: 6

Last week: 3

Most important game remaining: Week 12 vs. the Cowboys

There are multiple reasons to choose this game. Washington plays two tough games in a row — hosting Pittsburgh and playing at Philadelphia on a Thursday night. If those games don't go well, then the Cowboys game becomes one to regain momentum. But, even if those games don't go poorly, this would be a chance to perhaps end Dallas' realistic playoff hopes. And if Washington wins at Philly, it could get to 4-0 in the NFC East — a huge tiebreaker advantage. — John Keim Last week: 7

NFL.com(Edholm) With the Commanders completing a sweep of the Giants on Sunday, it's fair to point out that they have fattened up a bit on the weaker part of their schedule, beating only one team (Arizona) that currently sits over .500. That takes nothing away from Jayden Daniels, who proved to be too much for New York and remains a very difficult player for opponents to deal with for four quarters. I'm a little worried about the run defense, which was porous in the first half before Washington went up two scores; that will continue to be tested by opponents, especially the next two on the docket (the Steelers and Eagles). Still, as long as the Commanders have Daniels, they have a chance to win. The rookie wasn't particularly special on Sunday, but he's been very good (or better) in most games this season. So far, he has absolutely been a franchise changer, largely driving Washington's 7-2 record, even while the Commanders have improved team-wide in several areas from top to bottom. Last week: 5

The Athletic(Kendall)Something nice: The offensive balance

Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels rightfully is getting most of the credit for this surprising season, but he's getting a lot of help. As in help from a lot of places. Ten offensive players received a carry or a catch Sunday. Terry McLaurin is seventh in the league in receiving yards (598), but he's the only real standout skill player. Five Commanders have at least 160 receiving yards this season and four have at least 160 rushing yards, and Washington is 7-2 for the first time since 1996. Last week: 7

Sports Illustrated(Orr) The first big test for Commanders GM Adam Peters has arrived. We've approached the trade deadline and his head coach, Dan Quinn, has succeeded in creating immaculate vibes. The question now becomes how do you try and enhance them, if at all? The Commanders obviously need stuff—they need starters in their secondary, depth in their receiving corps, help at the offensive line. But will they compromise the long-term plan for an accelerated start that no one saw coming? Last week: 4

Sporting News() The Commanders once again flexed on both fronts against the Giants with their rushing attack and pass rush. Jayden Daniels is locked in again after the hiccup tied to the injury to his ribs, looking again like the runaway OROY. Last week: 7

Yahoo Sports(Schwab) The Commanders have a tricky Week 10 game against the Steelers. It would be easy for them to look ahead to a Week 11 showdown against the Eagles, which will be on a Thursday night. It would be a sign of maturity for the Commanders if they don't trip up this weekend. Last week: 7

USA Today(Davis) Good as their Jayden Daniels-led offense is, the NFC East leaders probably couldn't just rely on it to boat race opponents, a la Detroit and Baltimore. This D has shown steady improvement, yet it still too frequently allows an offense like the Giants' to appear competent. Reeling in a four-time Pro Bowler like CB Marshon Lattimore is about as good a pickup as this team could hope for – assuming, naturally, that he's healthy. Last week: 7

Fox Sports(Helman) There wasn't a ton that jumped off the screen in Washington's win against the Giants, but it feels important that a team quarterbacked by a rookie responded so well to last week's big win against Chicago. It'd have been understandable if the Commanders looked a bit flat in New York, but they were in control the whole way. Last week: 5

Bleeding Green Nation() The Commanders have faced the second-easiest strength of schedule this season (.388) and, to their credit, they've taken advantage of inferior opponents. Jayden Daniels isn't just the Offensive Rookie of the Year; he's a top MVP candidate. Last week: 7

Sportsnaut(Johnson) The Giants made it close on the scoreboard, but the Washington Commanders largely had control of this game. While a win is typically all that should matter, the bigger NFL news in Week 9 is the report that players want to play for the Commanders. That's something no one ever expected. It also honestly strengthens the argument for Jayden Daniels to win NFL MVP. The Commanders' schedule gets tougher from here (vs Steelers, at Eagles), but everything we've seen from Washington this year suggests it's one of the best NFL teams. Last week: 8

Credit the Redskins for bouncing back from the Hail Mary. Of the five Hail Mary winners since 2002, only two covered the spread the following week. The Redskins played with good energy in the next game, holding two-touchdown leads after halftime and the third quarter. Last week: 7

The 33rd Team(Mosher) The Washington Commanders have passed just about every test so far. But things are going to get a lot harder for them, starting this week with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming to town after a Week 9 bye.

If the Commanders find a way to win that game, we can start talking about them as serious Super Bowl contenders. Last week: 8

New York Post(Dunleavy) Even without leading rusher Brian Robinson Jr., the Commanders ran for 149 yards on the ground in a 27-22 win against the Giants . Jayden Daniels threw for two touchdown passes and iced the win with a 42-yard completion to run out the clock as Washington has started 7-2 for the first time since 1996 in Daniels' rookie season. Last week: 8

Bleacher Report Last week, the Washington Commanders won in historic, Hail Mary fashion over the Chicago Bears. With a young team led by a rookie quarterback, a letdown week following that victory wouldn't have been especially surprising.

But there was no letdown with these Commanders. Because these Commanders are for real.

Rookie phenom Jayden Daniels had another excellent game. The Commanders picked up 149 yards on the ground despite being without starting running back Brian Robinson Jr. And the Washington defense hung in there enough that Washington moved to 7-2 on the season and held pace with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East.

Washington head coach Dan Quinn lauded his team for not letting up after last week's victory while speaking to reporters after the game.

"It was like a historic win for us last week at home in the fashion it went," Quinn said. "How do you recognize it and yet fill the tanks back up knowing you're heading back into a division game? I thought it showed a lot of maturity from the team and poise to say, 'That was cool, now we got to get right back into the next process.'"

The Commanders were arguably the biggest buyers in the league at the trade deadline, sending a package of picks to the New Orleans Saints for cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

Analyst's Take

"The Commanders are legitimate contenders. On the road, they hung with the Ravens. Washington also beats inferior teams like the Giants.

"The Commanders are a weekly top-10 club in a two-team race with the Eagles for the NFC East title. Their upcoming matchups with the Steelers and Eagles will test them at a crucial point in the season." — Moton Last week: 10

Sharp Football AnalysisLast week: 7

Pro Football Network(Rolfe) Offense+ Rank: 2 Defense+ Rank: 23 Special Teams Rank: 16 SOS Rank Through Week 9: 30 It has clearly become a two-horse race for the NFC East, and after nine weeks, the Washington Commanders have put themselves in pole position. The Commanders are 5-1 within the conference, so they already have a leg up on the Philadelphia Eagles (3-2 in conference play). However, they still need to at least split their two meetings and not drop too many games in the second half of the season.

Washington's offense continues to be superb. The Commanders have scored 25+ points on five occasions and 21+ in seven games. This season, teams that score 25 points are 86-18, while teams that score 21 points or more are 113-39.

The metrics suggest this defense is mediocre at best, but they've kept teams to 18 points or less on five occasions. Limit the struggles against better offenses, and this is a complete team. Last week: 8

The Score If you combine superb quarterback play, a solid rushing attack, a respectable defense, and a bit of heroics, you get the NFC East-leading Commanders. Jayden Daniels has been excellent as a dual-threat passer and, more impressively, hasn't been picked off since Week 5. Last week: 9

Odds SharkLast week: 12

#10NFL Trade Rumors(Woodie) The Giants made it interesting late, but the game was never in question. I've been so impressed with this Washington defense, a testament to HC Dan Quinn. Last week: 10

#11The Ringer(Lee)Last week: 10

Pro Football Focus(Valentine) Strength of schedule to date: 31 Strength of schedule remaining: 17 Projected win total: 11.96 % chance of making the playoffs: 94.03 % chance of winning the division: 53.50 % chance of winning the conference: 14.77 % chance of winning the Super Bowl: 7.06 The Commanders knocked off the Giants with a gritty 27-22 win in Week 9 and are now 7-2 with the second-best record in the NFC, and the third-best in the NFL. They've had the second-easiest schedule to date, but as long as they keep racking up the wins, they'll be playoff-bound. The offense, as it has for most of the season, leads the NFL in EPA per play (0.210). Last Week: 12