Week 16 NFC Roundup: Commanders Reflect on Jayden Daniels’ Growth, Cowboys Back Aubrey, Giants See Promise in Abdul Carter
As the NFL season barrels toward its final weeks, the stakes are rising-and so are the storylines. From a rookie quarterback learning on the fly in Washington, to a kicker’s rare off-day in Dallas, to a breakout performance from a young linebacker in New York, Week 16 is shaping up to be a pivotal chapter for several NFC squads. Let’s break it all down.
Commanders: Jayden Daniels’ Season Hits a Wall, But the Lessons Could Be Lasting
It’s never easy watching a promising rookie hit a rough patch, and for the Commanders, the decision to shut down quarterback Jayden Daniels for the remainder of the season was clearly a tough one. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury didn’t hide his disappointment.
“He loves to practice, loves to play, loves all parts of the game,” Kingsbury said, echoing what we’ve seen from Daniels all season-an infectious energy and a deep love for football. But when GM Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn made the call, it became another reminder that development isn’t always linear in the NFL.
Kingsbury also acknowledged that Daniels hadn’t quite looked like himself in recent weeks. The confidence that defined his early-season play had faded, and while that’s not unusual for a young quarterback, it’s still a challenge to navigate.
“These are things you have to go through as a young player,” Kingsbury said. “It’s part of the deal-developing thicker skin, building mental toughness through adversity.”
The silver lining? Daniels is wired the right way. He’s competitive, he loves the grind, and he’s now got a full season’s worth of hard-earned lessons to build on heading into Year 2.
Meanwhile, Washington will be down a key piece on the offensive line this week. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil has been ruled out with a strained oblique, and Brandon Coleman will step in as the starter. That’s a big ask against the edge rushers they’re about to face.
On the defensive side, some good news: edge rusher Drake Jackson, who’s been dealing with a knee issue, is expected to suit up Sunday.
Cowboys: Aubrey Misses Two, But Dallas Isn’t Panicking
Brandon Aubrey has been nearly automatic this season, so when he missed two field goals in the Cowboys’ Week 15 loss to the Vikings, it raised some eyebrows. But inside the building? No one’s sounding the alarm.
Aubrey himself was calm and composed when discussing the misses.
“Struck the first one well from 51, just left it a little right,” he explained. “The second one from 59, caught it off the toe.
Pretty easy fixes. I’ve had a day like this every year.
Nothing needs to change.”
That kind of confidence isn’t just talk-it’s earned. Aubrey’s been one of the most reliable legs in the league since joining Dallas, and both Jerry Jones and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer made it clear they’re standing behind their kicker.
“We were making field goals rather than getting touchdowns,” Jones said, pointing to a bigger issue with red-zone execution. “And that ended up biting us.”
Schottenheimer put it more bluntly: “We’re spoiled with Brandon Aubrey.”
He’s not wrong. One off day doesn’t erase what Aubrey’s done all year.
Giants: Abdul Carter Flashes Star Potential in Breakout Game
In a season filled with ups and downs, the Giants may have found a bright spot in rookie outside linebacker Abdul Carter. After being benched twice earlier in the year, Carter responded with the kind of game that turns heads: seven tackles, three for loss, a sack, and two forced fumbles.
“Just doing my job. Playing fast.
Playing hard. Simple as that,” Carter said after the game.
It wasn’t just a stat-stuffing performance-it was a statement.
Veteran defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence was quick to praise the young linebacker.
“I’m happy he had his game. He had his little game,” Lawrence said with a smile.
“But we have to come back and do it again next week. That is greatness.
His ceiling is through the roof.”
Interim head coach Mike Kafka echoed that sentiment, pointing to Carter’s strong week of practice as the foundation for his breakout.
“Anytime a young player can step up and start turning the page, that’s big,” Kafka said. “But now the challenge is, can you stack another day? Can you stack another week?”
The Giants are hoping Carter’s performance wasn’t a one-off, but the beginning of something much bigger.
Injury-wise, New York will be without several key players in Week 16. Wide receiver Beaux Collins, offensive lineman Evan Neal, defensive lineman Rakeem Nuñez-Roches Sr., and edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux have all been ruled out. Several others, including OL Joshua Ezeudu and CB Rico Payton, are listed as questionable.
Bottom Line:
As we head into the final stretch of the regular season, the storylines are shifting from what teams are to what they could become. Jayden Daniels is learning the hard way what it takes to be an NFL quarterback.
Brandon Aubrey is proving that even the best have off days-and how you respond matters most. And Abdul Carter?
He just might be the next big thing in New York, if he can keep stacking performances like this.
Week 16 is here. The pressure’s mounting. And the NFC’s young talent is being tested like never before.