Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels addressed the media after practice on Jan. 8. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.
On how different of a quarterback he is compared to Week 1:
"I think just going back and watching the film, you could just see you learn a lot more as the season goes by. So, obviously that was my first game and just trying to go out there and learn some more experiences. But I mean, at the end of the day it's still football, it's still going to be a challenge to go up and compete against those guys once again."
On what Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has meant to him this year:
"He meant a lot, obviously just for my development and my growth from the day I stepped foot here to this point now. So, just be able to see and get to learn the type of person Kliff is on and off the field. I mean, it's only helped our relationship grow even more from there."
On if this week feels any different:
"Nah, I mean, it's just going through my routine that I'll usually go through. It's just, I know it's cliche, but it's literally just another game. It's only a couple teams are still playing left."
On the wildfires in the Los Angeles area:
"I mean, just praying for everybody and their families and stuff like that. Obviously, like I said, it's not really the area from I'm from, but it's still Southern California, that's still home to me. So, you never want to see nobody go through that or have to deal with stuff like that."
On his ability to compartmentalize and on where he learned it from:
"I think it's a mixture, just that's who I am and it's something that you got to learn. You got to learn to not let bad plays stack on top of the bad plays. If you have a bad play, you move on to the next play. And you can't really focus on anything that's in the past, you got to worry about the present, be where your feet are."
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On how it helps in late game situations:*
"I mean, it just helps you throughout the whole game, honestly. If I miss a throw on third down, you can't go back and relive that throw, you got to move on. So, it's not really just the late game situations. I mean, I guess that's where it shows up, but it's really throughout the whole game how I treat life."
On when he learned the Samoan card game Suipi and on how he would evaluate himself as a player:
"I remember learning it, I want to say like training camp. Obviously, we were playing in the quarterback room. And I think I'm up there as one of the top players."
On if Suipi is a popular locker room game and on how the locker has come together:
"I mean, we play a lot of different things, but I think that that's a game that, I mean, it's easy for everybody to play. As [QB] Marcus [Mariota] will say, it's a match in the adding game, it's a little bit more to that, but once you get to you get to learn that you to learn all the details about it. But that's a game that we play and I think everybody just likes playing different type of games with each other and hanging out around each other."
*On if he's thought about what his X-factor is: *"Nah, I haven't. I mean, I just go out there and try to play ball. I don't know, I think I just leave that up for DQ [Head Coach Dan Quinn] to figure out what my X-factor is."
*On if he's good to go for Sunday: *"Yeah, I'm good."
On his excitement level heading into his first playoff game:
"It's exciting, but I mean, you got to kind of deal with those emotions. But I know at the end of the day still you got to go out there and play ball. A lot of people going to put a lot of emphasis on it because at this point it's really win or go home. And from there it's like, okay, you got to go out there. The focus level might be a little bit more, but you got to stay who you are throughout the week, who you've been for these 17-18 weeks and go out there and just play ball."
On embracing the role of the underdog and on if he likes being the underdog:
*"I mean, I think you could say that, but I mean, I just more so just focus on what we got to do. How can we execute to put ourselves in the best position to win the game? I don't really, I know for a fact that people in the locker room or people in that building, don't look at it like, 'Oh, we're underdogs this week.' We got to go out there and prove to them, we're just out there, just playing a game. We're playing ball, we're having fun. So, I mean, at the end of the day, Sunday, we'll see everybody there."
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On him saying General Manager Adam Peters was a "dude" and on when he found that out:
"Just the type of person he is, he's real smart. He's in a way, like a go-getter. He worked for everything he has and I knew he'll have his footprint, his mark on this organization, this team. He just believes in everybody, he believes in all of us, everybody who he drafted, everybody who he signed and this whole organization. So, we all believe in him and AP [Peters] we trust."
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On when he learned this was a cool place to work:*
"I think I learned that pretty early throughout the draft process. I remember when I had interviews and meetings with them we didn't really talk about football, we just talked about life and they were just making sure I was alright, because they know how stressful this time period could be. So, they was really just checking on what the person, so I knew if they called my name, I knew would be a good spot for me to land."
On if he's thought about the first play against Tampa Bay in Week 1 and how far he's come:
*"I mean, like I said, I watched the game again. And it's crazy just to see the growth over, not even a year. And you just learn something different each and every game. It was just something new, you just get more comfortable. But if I got that first pass back, I would for sure."
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On why the team has had success in rematches this season:
"I don't really know. I just think each and every week you improve and you get better in your scheme and you get better. And you put that focus into trying to get better daily. So, I guess you could say each and every week we're a different team to answer that question."
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On if LB Bobby Wagner has shared any playoff advice with the team:*
"It doesn't matter who makes the plays, as long as the play is being made. The attention to detail, the focus might ramp up a little bit more, but at the end of the day you got to stick to your routine and try to keep that process going."
On what went through his mind as the team was driving down the field on the last possession against Dallas:
"Oh, we was going to win this game. I'm super confident in Marcus, man. And I'm just happy for him. Somebody I looked up to when I was younger, it's crazy to say that now, but just everything he's been through in his life and his career, he earned that right. He's a great person, a great teammate. So, I know we had a shot to go win this game. I know he was going to make plays to win it."
*On if he's learned anything about himself throughout the season: *"I think just, I always knew I had that, but just the drive and the hunger to get better each and every day and really just learn different things and being a sponge. Just got people in the locker room that's been playing a high level, for years and years to come. I want to be one of those people in the future to continue to play at a high level. And it's kind of different things that you learn from different individuals in different point in time in their careers, no matter if they had the success in the league, they learned so much. So, just being a sponge, I think that's probably the main thing I learned from myself this year."
On what he knew about WR Terry McLaurin before he came to Washington and on his relationship with McLaurin since the start of the year:
"I mean, I just knew Terry was a guy that made plays, very underrated, and be able to work with him. You could just see the work that he puts in day in and day out in the film room, on the practice field, taking care of his body, being an ultimate pro. And just the relationship off the field, I know he's a god fearing man, he talks about that. We have conversations about that. So, it's awesome just to see that we have something to bond over outside of football too."
On what delivering a playoff win to Washington fans would mean to the team:
"I think it would just, for the fan base, everything they've been through in their time being here, I just think for us it's like, man, we just go and try and win a football game. We'll let everybody else have the joy of stuff like that. But I mean, the fan base deserves to be able to cheer for the team in the playoffs. And we appreciate the support through it all."
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On if the team has talked about how special of a moment a playoff win would be:
*"No, we haven't talked about at all. That's not something that's in our focus, like I said, we'll let everybody outside the building determine that and how excited and happy they are. But we got to do whatever we can to go win a football game."
