4 winners (and 3 losers) from Commanders' skid-halting success at the Giants

Of all the games remaining for the Washington Commanders this season, their trip to the New York Giants looked the most winnable. It wasn't easy, but head coach Dan Quinn's squad dug deep to end their eight-game losing streak and sweep a division rival for good measure.

The Giants are a poor outfit. Washington isn't much better, but they at least executed more effectively in the end. This also put to rest speculation that Quinn had lost the locker room amid a turbulent campaign.

Everyone is still showing the correct determination. They are still pulling hard for Quinn and are completely bought into his coaching methods. That's not the case with other struggling franchises across the league, so it's a genuine positive for fans to hold onto.

The Commanders have three games left to build on this positivity. Two of those are against the Philadelphia Eagles, which makes it difficult to generate additional momentum. However, this performance told everyone associated with the organization that they are not going to go down without a fight before attention turns to a crucial offseason for the franchise.

That's for the not-too-distant future. For now, here are four winners and three losers from Washington's skid-halting triumph at MetLife Stadium.

Winners and losers from the Commanders' skid-halting success at the Giants

Winner No. 1

Jaylin Lane - Commanders WR

Even though rookie wide receiver Jaylin Lane is struggling to force his way into the team's offensive strategy, he's carving out a pretty decent niche for himself in another discipline. And he put this on full display with a pendulum-shifting moment in Week 15 that tipped the scales.

Lane's punt return exploits this season have been a breath of fresh air. He's decisive, explosive, and elusive, which means the former Virginia Tech weapon is capable of breaking off significant gains from even the slightest creases. The fourth-round pick put this to good use by electrifying a freezing afternoon with another return for a touchdown.

It was relatively straightforward. Lane cut once, and burst through the New York Giants' special-teams coverage before leaving everyone in the dust. That is now two return scores for the player, becoming the first Washington player since the great Brian Mitchell to achieve this feat in a single campaign.

Kliff Kingsbury remains reluctant to give him targets, which is fine. Lane is early in his development, but finding other ways to make a lasting contribution represents an outstanding foundation on which to build moving forward.

Loser No. 1

Noah Brown - Commanders WR

It's been another rough season for Noah Brown. The veteran wide receiver has endured a torrid campaign on the injury front, and just when it looked like the tide might be turning for the player, another setback emerged.

Brown caught one pass for a decent 28-yard gain early in the contest. The Washington Commanders were clearly eager to get him involved, but it didn't last. He ended up leaving the contest shortly after suffering a back complication in the first quarter.

The Ohio State product was initially listed as questionable to return. Brown got checked over in the locker room and was immediately ruled out for the rest of the game. With three games left, this could be the last time fans see the wideout in a Washington uniform if the issue is severe.

It's been a luckless run for Brown. Regardless of whether he gets back or not, the Commanders can no longer depend on him to stay healthy.

Winner No. 2

Jacory Croskey-Merritt - Commanders RB

The Commanders were dealt a blow before the clash when running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. couldn't prove his fitness after a pre-game test. He'd been starting and playing well in recent weeks, so Washington needed someone else to step up and fill the void.

Although veteran Jeremy McNichols started the contest, it didn't take long for Jacory Croskey-Merritt to take charge. The seventh-round rookie looked far more decisive and purposeful when touches came his way. Whether it was between the tackles or off the edge, the first-year pro caught the eye considerably.

Croskey-Merritt's meteoric rise over the early stages of the campaign tailed off dramatically. These are the typical growing pains associated with a late-round selection, but this was the most impressive performance he's had for months.

The rags-to-riches player notched 96 rushing yards and one touchdown from 18 carries. There is still a lot of work ahead, but Croskey-Merritt reminded fans of his bright future with the club.

Loser No. 2

Will Harris - Commanders S

The Commanders missed Will Harris's presence considerably during his time on injured reserve this season. He's made a decent contribution since returning to the lineup, but this was not his most encouraging afternoon at the office by any stretch of the imagination.

There seemed to be more hesitancy around Harris than at any stage this season. The aggression and positional prowess he'd previously displayed evaporated. His glaring missed tackle allowed New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. to go in for a touchdown, which was a microcosm of how things unfolded for the defensive back throughout Washington's long-awaited fourth win of the season.

Harris has earned enough good graces to suggest that this subpar outing was a blip rather than the start of anything more concerning. Fortunately for the Commanders, third-year safety Quan Martin performed well enough to compensate for the underperformance of others.

Winner No. 3

Antonio Hamilton Sr. - Commanders CB

The Washington Commanders are still searching for answers at the cornerback position. Marshon Lattimore and Trey Amos are out for the season, so others further down the pecking order are being tasked with additional responsibilities. Some haven't met their billing, but Antonio Hamilton Sr. proved he could remain part of the team's plans with an outstanding showing at MetLife Stadium.

This was Hamilton's best game since joining the Commanders, by a considerable margin. He tracked the football exceptionally well in coverage, made some critical pass breakups, and displayed the sort of closing speed when beaten that raised encouragement about his future outlook.

One could see Hamilton growing in confidence as the game wore on. He found his groove and looked like he belonged. This was a massive positive that played a leading role in Washington ending its alarming run of consecutive losses.

Stacking good performances down the stretch will exponentially improve Hamilton's chances of earning another deal.

Loser No. 3

Jeremy McNichols - Commanders RB

With running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. missing from the game with a groin issue, the Commanders needed someone else to step up. We've already spoken about the re-emergence of Jacory Croskey-Merritt, which represented a positive step forward for the seventh-round pick. However, things did not go as well for veteran Jeremy McNichols.

McNichols started the game, which raised a few eyebrows. Kliff Kingsbury obviously thought his physical running style would set the tone more effectively, but the former Boise State star didn't exploit gaps when they opened. When Croskey-Merritt quickly emerged as far more productive, the established pro returned to a rotational role.

Disaster almost struck for McNichols later in the game when he gave up a fumble. Fortunately, rookie right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. was alert enough to fall on the football, and the danger was averted. Still, seven rushing yards from nine carries meant this was not a profitable afternoon at the office.

Winner No. 4

Josh Conerly Jr. - Commanders OT

Things looked bleak for Josh Conerly Jr. early in the contest. The rookie offensive tackle found life difficult in his first meeting with the Giants on debut, and it looked like the same fate would befall the No. 29 pick when going up against the pass-rushing tandem of Abdul Carter and Brian Burns.

But, as has been the case in recent weeks, Conerly showed the resolve to turn things around. He was outstanding for the final three quarters, looking much more assured in pass protection and setting firm edges to form gaps on running plays. The former Oregon standout didn't win every rep, but this showed just how far he's come throughout the campaign.

Conerly also displayed his high football IQ and anticipation skills with two crucial fumble recoveries after errors from quarterback Marcus Mariota and running back Jeremy McNichols. If the edge protector hadn't been so engaged on both plays, the result could have been a lot different.