Late in the Washington Commanders' victory over the New York Giants, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury surprised the opposition with a deep shot to little-used tight end Ben Sinnott. The play worked to perfection, gaining 36 yards.
It was Sinnott’s only target of the game and just his fifth catch of the season. After making the grab, the second-year tight end wrapped both arms around the ball as he rumbled for a few extra yards. He made sure he would not fumble.
That play should have all but ended the game. It didn’t, because on the very next play, veteran running back Jeremy McNichols fumbled. It was one of several blunders made by the Commanders in the closing minutes that almost cost them their first win in more than two months.
Commanders' young stars finally stepped up against the Giants
The odd thing about these mistakes is that they were made by Washington’s veterans. Fortunately, this was the first game of the 2025 season in which the young players stepped up at key moments and made winning plays. Apart from the triumph itself, that may be the biggest silver lining from Week 15.
Washington’s first touchdown drive of the game featured quality plays from every single offensive player drafted in the last two seasons, except injured players Jayden Daniels and Luke McCaffrey.
Rookie Jaylin Lane got it started with an excellent punt return on which he ran straight downhill for 20 yards. No running backwards or trying to juke defenders. He gave the Commanders’ offense the ball inside enemy territory.
Fellow rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt then took over. On the second play of the drive, he burst up the middle for 11 yards. On the play, two 2024 draft picks — Sinnott and Brandon Coleman — were on the field blocking for him.
Two plays later, Croskey-Merritt cut back into the middle and ran through a massive hole for the score. The entire offensive line pushed the Giants' defense left, while rookie right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. sealed off the right side, creating the hole.
On the day, Croskey-Merritt ran 18 times for 96 yards, a welcome return to the form he had displayed early in the season. Perhaps it was a coincidence, but he seemed to run better when Sinnott was lined up as a fullback or in a tight wing spot.
Coleman, the forgotten man on the offensive line, stepped in for the injured Laremy Tunsil and provided solid play at left tackle. On the right side, Conerly was beaten like a drum early on, but as he has done all season, he showed remarkable resilience, settling in as the game went on. He also had two key fumble recoveries.
And of course, Lane would help break the game open the second time he touched the ball. Once again, he showed no hesitation on his 63-yard punt return just before halftime that gave Washington a 19-7 lead. It was the rookie’s second punt return score this season.
Washington’s maligned defenders got in on the act as well. Mike Sainristil had a key interception. Quan Martin tackled better and had a beautiful pass breakup, preventing a Giants’ touchdown in the fourth quarter. Defensive lineman Johnny Newton played arguably the best game of his career.
The Commanders' fledgling stars are far from perfect. Conerly and Sainristil are both inconsistent, while Sinnott and Lane are struggling to make a mark on offense. But their play against the Giants offers several glimmers of hope in what has been an otherwise depressing 2025 season.