Late in the Commanders’ long-awaited win over the Giants, Kliff Kingsbury reached into his bag of tricks - and pulled out a beauty. With the Giants caught off guard, quarterback Sam Howell launched a deep shot to tight end Ben Sinnott, who had barely seen the ball all year.
The result? A 36-yard gain and a jolt of life for a Washington offense that had been searching for answers.
Sinnott, targeted just once all game and with only four catches to his name heading into Week 15, made the most of his opportunity. He secured the ball with both arms and barreled forward, determined not to let the moment slip away - literally or figuratively.
That play should’ve iced the game. But in keeping with the Commanders’ season-long theme of making things harder than they need to be, veteran running back Jeremy McNichols coughed up the ball on the very next snap.
Suddenly, a sure win was back in doubt.
But here’s what made this game different: the Commanders’ young core didn’t flinch.
For the first time all season, Washington’s rookies and second-year players didn’t just show flashes - they delivered when it mattered. That’s the real story here.
The win was important, sure. But the emergence of this youth movement might be the biggest takeaway from a game that, for a brief moment, looked like it might get away.
A Youth-Driven Touchdown March
Washington’s first touchdown drive was a showcase for the team’s recent draft classes. With Jayden Daniels and Luke McCaffrey sidelined, nearly every other young offensive player stepped up.
It started with rookie return man Jaylin Lane, who set the tone with a no-nonsense 20-yard punt return. No dancing, no hesitation - just straight downhill with purpose. That return gave the offense a short field, and the kids took it from there.
Running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, another rookie, wasted no time. On just the second play of the drive, he ripped off an 11-yard run behind blocks from fellow 2024 picks Ben Sinnott and Brandon Coleman.
Two snaps later, Croskey-Merritt found daylight again - this time cutting back through a wide-open lane created by the entire line shifting left while rookie right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. sealed the edge. Touchdown, Washington.
Croskey-Merritt finished the day with 18 carries for 96 yards, his best performance since early in the season. And there was a noticeable trend: he seemed to run with more confidence when Sinnott was lined up in a fullback or tight wing role, giving him a reliable lead blocker.
Stepping Up in the Trenches
Brandon Coleman, often the forgotten man on the offensive line, filled in for the injured Laremy Tunsil at left tackle and held his own. On the right side, Conerly had a rough start - he got beat early and often.
But to his credit, the rookie settled in and showed the kind of resilience you want from a young lineman. He even recovered two fumbles, proving that hustle matters just as much as technique.
Lane Strikes Again
Lane wasn’t done after his early return. With Washington clinging to a 12-7 lead late in the first half, he fielded another punt - and this time, he didn’t stop until he was in the end zone.
A 63-yard return touchdown gave the Commanders a 19-7 cushion and marked his second punt return score of the season. For a team that’s struggled to generate explosive plays, Lane’s special teams spark has been a rare bright spot.
Young Defense Answers the Call
It wasn’t just the offense and special teams - Washington’s young defenders came to play, too. Mike Sainristil came up with a crucial interception. Quan Martin, who’s had his ups and downs this season, was more consistent in coverage and delivered a textbook pass breakup in the red zone to deny a Giants touchdown in the fourth quarter.
And then there was defensive lineman Johnny Newton, who quietly had what might’ve been the best performance of his young career. He was disruptive, active, and played with the kind of motor that coaches love to see from interior linemen.
Still Growing, Still Learning
Let’s not sugarcoat it - this group is still figuring things out. Conerly and Sainristil have been inconsistent.
Sinnott and Lane, despite their flashes, are still trying to carve out regular roles on offense. But what we saw against the Giants was a glimpse of what this team could become if the youth movement keeps progressing.
For a franchise that hasn’t had much to cheer about in 2025, this win - and more importantly, how it happened - offers something that’s been in short supply: hope. The Commanders' young core didn’t just show up.
They took over. And for the first time in a long time, the future didn’t feel so far away.