Jayden Daniels throws for 5 TDs as the Commanders end the Eagles' winning streak at 10

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Jayden Daniels was not worried when he and the Washington Commanders trailed the Philadelphia Eagles by 14 points after just seven minutes, and the rookie quarterback was similarly undaunted staring down a 13-point deficit going into the fourth quarter, long after Jalen Hurts was sidelined with a concussion.

“I always believe that we can win the game no matter what,” Daniels said. “The game’s never over till the clock hits zero.”

Daniels got the ball when the clock read 1:58, and he delivered his latest masterful performance by finding Jamison Crowder in the end zone with 6 seconds left to give the Commanders an emotional 36-33 comeback victory Sunday that ended the Eagles' winning streak at 10 games. It was his fifth touchdown pass of the game as Daniels shined and kept Philadelphia from celebrating an NFC East championship.

“You got those guys that came in on the win streak they were on, they were hot and they’re a very good team — rightfully so, good offense, good defense, all-around well-prepared team and you want to go out there and see where you match up against those type of guys,” Daniels said.

"Those type of situations when it’s on thin ice and plays need to be made, that’s what you live for. If you really love this sport, you live for those big-time moments where it comes down to the end.”

Daniels is the first Washington QB to throw for five touchdowns since Mark Rypien in 1991. That was Washington's most recent Super Bowl-winning season. Rypien, who was the MVP of that Super Bowl, was in attendance for Sunday's game.

Daniels bounced back from two interceptions, including one in the final minutes, to lead a 57-yard touchdown drive against the NFL's best defense. Washington (10-5) is now on the verge of making the playoffs after handing the Eagles (12-3) their first loss since Sept. 29.

The Eagles played without Hurts for the vast majority of the game and failed to clinch the division and one of the conference's top two seeds despite Saquon Barkley running for 109 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter alone.

Daniels was the primary reason for that, beating the Eagles a month after losing to them on the road. He was 24 of 39 for 258 yards with a pair of TDs to Crowder and Olamide Zaccheaus and one to Terry McLaurin — and Daniels was Washington's leading rusher with 81 yards on nine carries.

Daniels is the first rookie quarterback to throw for five or more touchdowns and rush for 65 or more yards in a single game in NFL history.

“It doesn’t get too much harder going against a team like that, back against the wall,” said McLaurin, who had five catches for 60 yards to eclipse 1,000 for a fifth consecutive season. “But when you’ve got to have it, when the game’s on the line, he made the plays and we just tried to make the plays with him.”

Daniels' brilliance was enough to overcome Brian Robinson Jr. losing two fumbles in the first half and Dyami Brown another early in the third quarter and Marshon Lattimore getting flagged three times for pass interference.

The Commanders also found a solution for Barkley, who was held to 41 yards after the first.

“Obviously when a quarterback goes out, we knew that a lot of the attention was going to be on him,” linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “He’s a special player, so you just want to contain him.”

Philadelphia's offense stagnated with the drop-off from Hurts to backup Kenny Pickett, who threw an interception to Frankie Luvu in his first meaningful NFL action in more than a year.

“We didn't do enough,” Barkley said. “We left a lot of plays out there, including myself.”

Luvu also leveled the hit on Hurts that knocked Philadelphia’s starting QB out of the game just a few minutes in. Hurts’ head also bounced off the ground at the end of his previous run, and he was ruled out after two trips to the medical tent on the sideline and the concussion evaluation that followed.

Hurts’ status is a question that will linger for the Eagles into their final two games of the regular season as the Super Bowl contenders eye a long playoff run. Pickett was 14 of 24 for 143 yards in relief, throwing a touchdown pass to A.J. Brown and the interception.

DeVonta Smith dropped a late pass that would have given Philadelphia a first down rather than a second field goal from Jake Elliott, and the receiver took responsibility for the mistake.

"I just dropped the ball," Smith said. “It cost us the game.”

Eagles: Beyond Hurts, edge rusher Josh Sweat left with an ankle injury and defensive tackle Jordan Davis limped off in the second quarter. ... Pickett said he had his ribs X-rayed and would undergo further testing.

Commanders: Lattimore and Brown left with hamstring injuries in the fourth quarter. ... Right tackle Andrew Wylie did not finish the game because of a groin injury. ... Rookie linebacker Jordan Magee left early in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury.

Eagles: Host Dallas next Sunday.

Commanders: Host Atlanta next Sunday night.

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

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) running with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) acknowledges fans as he heads off the field at the end of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) heads off the field at the end of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Jamison Crowder (80) celebrates his touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Jamison Crowder (80) scores a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Jamison Crowder (80) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Jamison Crowder (80) scoring a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) scrambles as he carries the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (14) celebrating his touchdown against Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett (7) throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (14) scores a touchdown against Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo (22) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (14) scores a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) breaks away from Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) and runs with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) breaks away from Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) and runs with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) avoids a tackle by Philadelphia Eagles safety Reed Blankenship (32) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (14) celebrating his touchdown with Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) and others during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Nikola Jokic overcame a slow scoring start for his ninth triple-double of the season, finishing with 27 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in the Denver Nuggets' 132-129 overtime victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night.

Jokic turned it on after failing to score in the first 21 minutes. Jamal Murray added 27 points, scoring Denver’s final five in overtime, and Russell Westbrook had 21.

The Pelicans led 107-98 with 7:50 left in regulation, but Jokic scored seven points in a 15-2 Denver run over a 3:41 span to give the Nuggets a 113-109 lead.

CJ McCollum put New Orleans up 119-117 with a 3-pointer with 52 seconds remaining, and Murray tied it with 8.8 seconds left. McCollum shot an airball on a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Jokic scored the first six points of overtime and assisted on an Aaron Gordon layup to put Denver up 129-125.

Jordan Hawkins led New Orleans with 25 points. McCollum had 24.

Nuggets: Coach Mike Malone has stressed intensity to his team, which has been playing inconsistently in the last two weeks. “We’ve had a Club Med vacation schedule the last two weeks … and now we start five games in five nights,” Malone said. “We’ll see what our team is made of.”

Pelicans: New Orleans, losers of 16 of 7 games, had a season-high 37 assists — 15 by Dejounte Murray.

Jamal Murray missed a layup but got his own rebound and followed up inside for a 129-125 lead.

Jokic scored his first points in two free throws 2:51 before halftime and finished the half with six points, five rebounds and six assists.

The Nuggets host Phoenix on Monday night. The Pelicans host Houston on Thursday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins (24) is congratulated by forward Herbert Jones (2) after making a 3-point basket in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (5) and New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins (24) leap for a rebound in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) drives to the lane against Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum drives to the lane against Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (2) goes to the basket between Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) and guard Russell Westbrook (4) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi reacts after missing his free throws at the end of overtime during an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. The Nuggets won in overtime 132-129. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III (25) looks to pass under pressure from Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) and center Nikola Jokic, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III (25) goes to the basket over Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III (25) goes to the basket ahead of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) and forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)