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Conference Championship curse for Rookie QBs: how the five other rookies fared in AFC/NFC title games

Jayden Daniels has had a historic rookie season, and he has a chance to do something that no rookie quarterback has done in the history of the NFL.

Jayden Daniels has had a historic rookie season, and he has a chance to do something that no rookie quarterback has done in the history of the NFL.
Gene J. PuskarAP

The turnaround has been undeniable. There is a new era in the nation’s capital and we aren’t talking about the recently inaugurated president currently residing in the White House. We are talking about the rookie QB that has lifted the Washington Commanders out of the gutter and into the NFL’s elite conversation in just a year. Now the rookie has a chance to do something that has never been done by a first year QB.

Daniels chasing history, aiming for Super Sunday

In his first year, No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels has been the catalyst for the kind of change they have been craving at Northwest Stadium. After 7,000 days without a playoff win, Daniels led his team to back to back wins in the first two playoff games and now Washington is a game away from the Super Bowl.

He was a shoe in for Rookie of the Year after throwing for 3,568 yards, 25 TDs and just 9 INTs while hitting 69% of his passes which was top five for starting QBs in the NFL. His QB Rating was fourth in the league behind Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen. The fact that he is in the conversation with those QBs in his rookie year in incredible. What’s even more astonishing is he has been even better in the playoffs.

He is now the leader in passing yards this postseason with 567 yards, four TD passes and no INTs and has the best QB rating of any of the quarterbacks in then playoffs this season. The Commanders will play their NFC East rivals, the Philaldephia Eagles, on Sunday and if Daniels leads his team to victory he will be the first rookie to win a Conference Championship.

Five rookies QBs who came up just short of Super Sunday

Sean King, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1999

King was taken by the Bucs in the second round and wasn’t supposed to be the starter for Tampa Bay, but when QB1 Trent Dilfer went down with an injury that kept sidelined the rest of the season. The Bucs rode their defense to the NFC Championship, but were beat by the St. Louis Rams “Greatest Show on Turf” team. King went 13-29 for 163 yards and zero TDs in the 11-6 loss.

Ben Rothlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers, 2004

The 11th overall pick in the 2004 draft, Big Ben came onto the scene in Pittsburgh and quickly made himself the Steelers starter after beginning the season as the QB3. Tommy Maddox was hurt in Week 2 and Rothlisberger went on a record 13-0 run to start his rookie campaign. After getting the one seed in the AFC, they met the Patriots in the conference title game. Big Ben went 14/24 for 224 yards and two TDs and rushed for 45 yards, but threw two picks and fumbled as the Steelers lost to New England 41-27.

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens, 2008

The Baltimore Ravens took Flacco in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, but wasn’t in the plans of first year coach John Harbaugh during the preseason. He was designated as the third string QB, but injury and illness swept through the QB room an Flacco was named the starter in Week 1. Baltimore went 11-5, clinching a playoff spot, but unlike the previous two rookies Flacco and the Ravens had to play the first round of the playoffs. He became the first rookie to win two playoff games before meeting the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship. Flacco struggled, going 13/30 for 141 yards and throwing three picks in the 23-14 loss.

Mark Sanchez, New York Jets, 2009

New York took Mark Sanchez out of the University of Southern California with the 5th pick in the 2009 draft and the rookie won the starting job in preseason over Kellen Clemens. The Jets went 9-7 in the regular season, earning a Wild Card spot and beating the Bengals and the Chargers to get to the AFC Championship. Sanchez and the Jets met Payton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in the conference title game. Sanchez played well, going 17/30 for 257 yards with 2 TDs and 1 INT, but New York lost 30-17 in Indy.

Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers, 2022

The last rookie to lead his team to the Conference Championship was Brock Purdy with the San Francisco 49ers. The former Mr. Irrelevant, and last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft was thrown to the fire after injuries to Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance. Purdy took over in a Week 12 game when Garoppolo was sidelined for the rest of the season and the rookie led the Niners to seven straight wins to end the season. Purdy led the Niners to a blowout win over the Seahawks in the Wild Card round, and a narrow victory over the Cowboys before getting knocked out of the Conference Championship on the first offensive series for the Niners. San Fran would go on to lose to the Eagles 31-7.

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