The Detroit Lions have achieved a lot in the 2024 season. For the first time ever, they’ve earned the NFC’s No. 1 seed, despite a series of injuries to key players (especially on defense) that makes you wonder if the team did something to earn bad karma in a past life.

Head coach Dan Campbell has proven himself to be one of the most effective motivators in sports, while Campbell’s two main assistants – offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn – are likely to become head coaches in the near future. Jared Goff has become one of the league’s better quarterbacks, an impressive turnaround considering his early struggles in the NFL. Despite the injuries, the Lions have one of the most well-rounded rosters in the league.

However, the Lions haven’t yet faced the Washington Commanders and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels this season. They’ll meet in the divisional round this Saturday at 8:00 p.m. EST, and while Vegas seems to think it’s a straightforward matchup, there’s one major reason to be cautious about the spread.

That reason is, of course, Jayden Daniels.

The second overall pick in the 2024 draft from LSU has had one of the most impressive rookie quarterback seasons in NFL history. Including the postseason, he’s completed 355 of 515 passes (68.3%) for 3,836 yards (7.4 yards per attempt), 27 touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a passer rating of 100.8.

When factoring in his 927 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns on 161 carries (5.8 yards per attempt), it’s clear that Daniels is a dual-threat, forcing defenses to adjust in ways few rookie quarterbacks can. It’s no surprise the Lions are on high alert.

“Absolutely, his demeanor and how calm he is,” Glenn said Wednesday, praising Daniels’ ability to exceed expectations for a rookie. “You can see it on TV, and another thing that stands out is, he’s having fun playing. That’s what we should all do. Winning obviously helps, but his ability to make plays, even when they don’t work out, shows how much he enjoys the game.

I think that’s why he’s so successful. He’s not overthinking it, he knows what his strengths are, and he uses everyone around him to elevate his game. It’s almost like he’s playing point guard, delivering and leading.”

Daniels is capable of disrupting the Lions’ defensive strategies. Detroit’s man coverage rate is the highest in the NFL at 44.9%, but Daniels has excelled against it, completing 75 of 134 passes for 987 yards, 316 air yards, nine touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 98.7.

Additionally, the Lions’ blitz-heavy approach may not be as effective against Daniels. With five or more pass-rushers, Daniels has completed 79 of 125 passes for 1,011 yards, 568 air yards, nine touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 134.6.

In fact, when facing five or more pass-rushers while in man coverage, Daniels has completed 39 of 67 passes for 565 yards, 387 air yards, five touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 110.6.

In defending Daniels, the Lions will have to choose between two difficult options.

Another concern for Detroit is their struggles against running quarterbacks. The Lions have allowed 449 rushing yards, 167 yards after contact, and six touchdowns on 68 attempts by quarterbacks this season. Their 6.6 yards per carry allowed is the second-worst in the NFL, and their first-down percentage allowed of 47.1% ranks second-worst as well.

Dan Campbell addressed the issue on Wednesday.

“I know this: running quarterbacks are tough to defend, and there’s no team that has a perfect answer for them,” Campbell said. “When you deal with guys like Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen, every team struggles. So we know it’s going to be a challenge, but we’ll have a plan. Aaron Glenn will have a good one, and our players will execute. He may break a run or two, but that doesn’t mean they win the game.”

Washington may also present challenges with their use of no-huddle and empty sets. Daniels leads the league in no-huddle dropbacks, with 415, far outpacing second-place Caleb Williams at 165. Daniels has completed 218 of 328 passes in no-huddle for 2,345 yards, 1,273 air yards, 15 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 93.6.

Daniels also tops the league in dropbacks in empty sets (137), completing 69 of 110 passes for 887 yards, 438 air yards, eight touchdowns, four interceptions, and a passer rating of 97.0.

However, the Lions have been effective in limiting these strategies. Against no-huddle, Detroit’s defense has allowed only 46 completions on 77 attempts for 593 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 72.1, the fifth-lowest in the NFL. And against empty sets, Glenn’s defense has allowed 46 completions on 73 attempts for 624 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 83.4.

Detroit’s defense is known for its discipline and ability to adjust after the snap, which has allowed them to handle no-huddle offenses and track receivers even in empty formations.

That said, Washington’s no-huddle tactics could be more difficult to handle.

“Yeah, communication is key, and they’re quick to run personnel to the ball,” Campbell said Thursday, discussing Washington’s approach. “They don’t hold the ball long, so we’ve been preparing to handle that, making sure we can substitute and match up immediately. We’ll have our packages ready and adjust quickly, but it’s definitely a challenge.”

Another area where Washington excels is on fourth down, where they have the NFL’s best conversion rate at 87.0%, converting 20 of 23 attempts. Daniels is a key part of that success, and the Lions are aware of the challenge.

“On third down, they open up their playbook, knowing they can go for it on fourth,” Glenn said. “We’ve studied their tendencies, and we have to be ready for all of it.”

For Daniels, it’s just another opportunity to show his calm under pressure.

“It’s just another game to me,” Daniels said Tuesday, when asked about the upcoming playoff challenge. “Everyone else might make it bigger than it is, but it’s still just football. Stick to your routine, do what’s got you here, and handle business when the time comes.”

It may not be easy for most, but Jayden Daniels makes it look effortless. And he’s poised to do it again on Saturday.