Jayden Daniels and the Commanders rout the Browns 34-13 to win their 4th in a row

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Jayden Daniels shook off throwing an early interception at the goal line like it was his 50th NFL game, not his fifth.

“Stay the course,” he said. "Don’t get too high, get too low. Everything’s going to work out.”

It worked out well enough to give Daniels and the Washington Commanders a fourth consecutive victory, a 34-13 rout of the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The rookie quarterback had nearly as many incompletions as the previous three games combined but overcame that with 82 yards rushing and the longest touchdown pass of his young career.

“I just missed some throws," said Daniels, who was 14 of 25 for 328 yards passing. "That’s it. Some throws I wish I had back, but we were able to capitalize on some plays.”

Washington is 4-1 for the first time since 2008. Cleveland has lost three in a row to drop to 1-4.

“Nobody likes where we are," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “I don’t feel good about 1-4. It eats at you.”

Daniels, Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols ran all over the Browns, combining for 211 yards on 31 carries. Robinson ran for two TDs, and McNichols had one in a game so lopsided that fans were doing the wave with four minutes left in the third quarter.

The Commanders defense had a ton to do with that, forcing Deshaun Watson to fumble, sacking him seven times and allowing a total of 212 yards. After Washington entered with the worst third-down defense in the league, Cleveland went 1 of 13 in a sloppy, disjointed effort, with its only touchdown coming in garbage time.

“We held it on our shoulders as a defense like this is the game for us to step forward,” said linebacker Frankie Luvu, who led the team with 2 1/2 sacks. “There’s always room for improvement, and us as a defense, we’re just getting started.”

Watson was 15 of 28 for 125 yards and the late TD toss to tight end Jordan Akins. He has yet to throw for 200 yards in a game this season, but Stefanski said after lifting Watson for Jameis Winston in the final minutes the Browns are “not changing quarterbacks."

“We need to play better," Stefanski said. “This is not a one-person issue on offense.”

Daniels, the No. 2 pick who quickly became the favorite for offensive rookie of the year, did not come close to completing 82.5% of passes like in his first four professional games. But he did make highlight-reel throws of 66 yards to Terry McLaurin and 41 for a TD to Dyami Brown, the latter of which after he asked offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury for the chance to go deep.

“He called the play, and we did it,” said Daniels, who gave way to backup Marcus Mariota with 12:50 left and the outcome already determined.

McLaurin made four catches for a season-high 125 yards. Ekeler had a 57-yard run that was Washington's longest since Derrius Guice went for 60 in 2019.

"We didn’t score on every single drive like we have in the past, which is the reality of football," said Ekeler, who had 107 yards from scrimmage in his return from a concussion. “It was just a different kind of philosophy for us to win the game. We had big plays, which obviously helped us. It was great to be able to show, hey, we can win this way, as well.”

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was Cleveland's most impactful player before cramping up in the third quarter, picking off Daniels at his team's 1-yard line, sacking him once and forcing McLaurin to fumble. He was still kicking himself for not finishing another sack of Daniels, too.

"That kind of sticks with me a little bit,” he said.

Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (hamstring) and long snapper Charley Hughlett (rib) were ruled out early in the second half. ... Safety Grant Delpit was evaluated for a head injury after going down in the third quarter. ... C Ethan Pocic went directly to the locker room after walking off the field in the fourth, and Stefanski said it was a knee injury. ... Tight end David Njoku had a 14-yard catch in his return from a three-game absence because of a high ankle sprain.

Browns: Visit the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday.

Commanders: Visit the Baltimore Ravens next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Washington Commanders linebacker Dante Fowler Jr., right, celebrates his sack of Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (not shown) during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols (26) runs past Cleveland Browns cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) watches from the sidelines in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston, front is sacked by Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, back, during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) recovers a fumble against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Cleveland Browns place kicker Dustin Hopkins, left, kicks a filed goal against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, center, celebrates with players after a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) break away from Washington Commanders defensive end Dorance Armstrong (92) during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) is sacked by Washington Commanders linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. (6) during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) looks to pass against the Cleveland Browns during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, right, is knocked out of bounds by Cleveland Browns cornerback Mike Ford Jr., left, during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) runs for a long gain against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) runs for a long gain against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) runs past Cleveland Browns defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

CLEVELAND (AP) — On his way to becoming one of baseball's best pitchers, Detroit's unquestioned ace and the AL's next Cy Young Award winner, Tarik Skubal crossed paths with a veteran pitcher — another lefty — who took him under his wing.

On Monday, Skubal will intersect with Matthew Boyd again.

In one of those full-circle baseball stories seemingly ripped from a movie script, the former Tigers teammates will start against each other in Game 2 of the AL Division Series as Cleveland looks to take a 2-0 lead after shutting out Detroit in the opener.

Skubal vs. Boyd wasn't on anyone's bingo card.

“Baseball is incredible,” said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, who had his own reunion last week in returning to Houston for the wild-card round. “It leads you to sometimes familiar places, and this one is leading us to a familiar face in a really big game against somebody who we all respect and admire.”

It would have been almost unimaginable a Skubal-Boyd matchup would ever take place, let alone on October’s grand stage.

The 33-year-old Boyd's career was at a crossroads just months ago as he rehabbed from Tommy John surgery last year. His prospects were limited.

“Middle of June, I’m throwing showcases to teams and coaching kids’ Little League games,” Boyd said Sunday, reflecting on his journey.

What happened next was as unexpected as Cleveland's run to an AL Central title.

Boyd kept pushing, and helped by Skubal's encouragement from his recovery years earlier from the same elbow procedure, he found a new home with the Guardians, who avoided a tricky trade market and signed him to a one-year contract in June to add depth to a rotation rocked by injuries.

He's made eight starts since joining Cleveland. His ninth will be against a team he knows better than his current one.

“Amazing,” Boyd said. “I couldn't write this script.”

Back in 2020, Skubal was an up-and-coming prospect with the Tigers, when the COVID pandemic struck. A wide-eyed rookie, Skubal was looking to find his place in the big leagues when Boyd became sort of a big brother.

Stealing a page from former teammate Justin Verlander's playbook, Boyd hosted team dinners on the road. Skubal remembers the gatherings helping him and some of the other Tigers players feel connected at a time when isolation was mandated.

“We probably weren’t supposed to be in each other’s rooms,” Skubal said, recalling the restrictions of those times. “He had dinner for us. He’s a great mentor and leader. He means a lot to me.”

They grew close, from teammates to tight friends.

When Skubal struggled during his first two seasons with the Tigers, he often turned to Boyd for guidance. He was always there, and more times than not, what Boyd told Skubal helped.

“He had a lot of advice and a lot of good stuff for me throughout all that,” Skubal said. “That speaks to the guy he is. He's the nicest guy in the world. I told him that, like, ‘Dude, you should act a little more mad sometimes.’ He’s so nice all the time.”

The consummate teammate, Boyd downplayed his impact on Skubal.

“We’re all trying to make each other better,” he said. “So if there were any ways that I helped Tarik, he helped me equally as much.”

Typical Boyd.

For eight seasons, he was Mr. Detroit. He lived in Michigan during the off-season, raised his family there, immersing himself in the community and becoming an invaluable leader and mentor throughout the clubhouse.

As Detroit rebuilt, Boyd's steadying presence became invaluable.

Hinch joked Sunday that he was reluctant to say something nice about Boyd the day before facing him. He couldn't help himself, though.

However, like Skubal, Hinch appreciates what Boyd meant to the Tigers, especially during some lean years for the franchise.

“He was asked to be a huge leader as young pitchers were broken in, as the transition of learning how to be a big leaguer, to learning how to win,” Hinch said. "He was instrumental in pouring some of this foundation.

“And to a man, everybody loves Matt Boyd. He was the opening day starter. I got the chance to name him that. I also had him take a leadership role on these first teams that I had that have the names now we know, Tarik and others, that as a veteran stability piece to a team that desperately needed it.”

Skubal learned the importance of a steady routine from Boyd. Get your rest. Do your preparation. Trust your stuff.

As he put together a stellar resume, leading the league in wins (18), ERA (2.39) and strikeouts (228) this season, Skubal said he got a text from Boyd after every game.

“Always positive things,” Skubal said. “It’s never like, ‘Hey, you looked bad out there.’ Always positive things. He’s such a good person.”

So when Boyd signed with the Guardians, one of the Tigers' division rivals, Skubal couldn't help but send his friend a message.

“My first text was that he was a traitor,” Skubal said with a laugh. “Now we’re on this stage. That’s pretty special. It’ll be fun to watch him. But I’m going to be rooting against him pretty heavily.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

FILE -Cleveland Guardians' Matthew Boyd pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

FILE - Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal reacts after striking out Houston Astros' Yainer Diaz during the sixth inning of Game 1 of an AL Wild Card Series baseball game, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox, File)