4 winners (and 3 losers) from the Commanders' win vs. NY Giants in Week 2

It's been a long time since the Washington Commanders celebrated a win. While their Week 2 outing against the New York Giants wasn't perfect, they got the job done.

The Commanders made much harder work of things than needed, in all honesty. Dan Quinn commended his squad for finding a way to win after the contest, but this is not the finished article by any stretch of the imagination. The tests are going to get stiffer in the coming weeks, so significant improvements are needed in pursuit of coming out on the other end smiling.

Washington ended its nine-game losing run and laid down a marker within the NFC East for good measure. The performance wasn't flawless at this early stage of their rebuild. At the same time, some extremely encouraging signs emerged from the clash at Northwest Stadium.

With this in mind, here are four winners and three losers from Washington's triumph over the Giants in Week 2.

Winners and losers from the Commanders' win vs. NY Giants in Week 2

Winner No. 1

Austin Ekeler - Commanders RB

It's only two games, but the Washington Commanders' decision to bring Austin Ekeler into the fold in free agency already looks like a tremendous piece of business by the front office. The veteran running back was outstanding once again versus the New York Giants, displaying the dual-threat ability that made him one of the league's most dynamic threats with the Los Angeles Chargers once upon a time.

Had Ekeler's kick-off return that he took to the house not been brought back for a penalty to begin the contest, things would have been even better for the former undrafted free agent. Despite this disappointment, he can look back at his Week 2 accomplishments with an enormous sense of pride.

Ekeler was explosive as a runner. There was a sharpness to his routes that rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels took advantage of frequently. Gaining 85 all-purpose yards from 11 touches was impressive, but his willingness as a pass blocker quickly became an overlooked positive.

If Ekeler keeps this up, he'll become one of the offseason's best signings. One the Commanders are going to benefit from enormously.

Loser No. 1

Jamin Davis - Commanders DE

The first Washington Commanders loser came before a competitive down was played. Jamin Davis was a healthy scratch in Week 2 against the New York Giants, which was a surprising twist for the former first-round selection following his transition to an edge rushing role throughout the offseason.

This is a body blow for Davis' progress. The player flashed during limited involvement in Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get another shot from Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr.'s standpoint.

What the future holds for Davis is unclear. It's a contract year for the Kentucky product after the Commanders didn't pick up his option. He made encouraging strides over the summer, but others are ahead of him in the edge-rushing queue. The fact Washington elevated Carlos Rogers from the practice squad at his expense is a damning indictment.

All Davis can do is keep progressing and working hard. Everything else is out of his hands, but this latest development doesn't exactly bode well for his chances of featuring prominently under the new regime in 2024.

Winner No. 2

Brian Robinson Jr. - Commanders RB

The Commanders were expecting big things from running back Brian Robinson Jr. this offseason. They wanted him to become their lead backfield threat despite signing veteran Austin Ekeler in free agency. After a solid enough game in Week 1, the former third-round selection propelled himself into a different stratosphere versus the New York Giants.

Robinson was an absolute revelation, demonstrating the patience and explosiveness to accumulate big plays almost at will. The Commanders leaned on him heavily to take the pressure off rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. It was a responsibility he was more than ready for.

The Alabama product eventually finished with 133 rushing yards from 17 carries. This equates to a whopping 7.8 yards per rush, which is a sensational number and something that helped the Commanders get a much-needed victory in their home opener.

This is the standard Robinson's now set for himself. Keeping this up is the next challenge, but confidence is high that the third-year pro can continue his evolution into an offensive focal point within a more balanced attack under play-caller Kliff Kingsbury.

Loser No. 2

Commanders OL

The Washington Commanders offensive line had a tough challenge on their hands against the New York Giants. They underachieved in Week 1, but the talent across their front seven couldn't be underestimated. It came as no surprise to see them struggle versus the likes of Dexter Lawrence II, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Washington's protection found life difficult for the most part. Jayden Daniels was sacked five times and it could have been more if not for his exceptional escapability. There were also frustrating discipline issues in the red zone, which made this game a closer affair than the time of possession suggested.

There were substantial changes to the offensive line this offseason. It was always going to take a little time to become a cohesive unit. However, mental errors are something that should be halted immediately to avoid any unnecessary complications moving forward.

The Commanders have enough talent across the line. Becoming a cohesive, consistent unit aware of their assignments pre-snap is imperative with the standard of opposition set to increase in the weeks ahead.

Winner No. 3

Austin Seibert - Commanders K

It's been a whirlwind few days for Austin Seibert. The Commanders' carousel of kickers since Brandon McManus' release resulted in another change following Cade York's woeful afternoon in Week 1. It's one game and the life of a kicker is temperamental, but he could be the problem-solver this team desperately needs.

Seibert was nothing short of sensational. There were plenty of chances to showcase his talent thanks to Washington's lack of red-zone efficiency. He was more than up for the challenge, nailing all seven of his field goal attempts to secure a new franchise record.

After so many misses for the Commanders in their kicking recruitment over the summer, this was a refreshing change of pace. Seibert can take a great deal of heart from this performance, carrying on from his decent production with the New York Jets in the preseason. Keeping it up is equally as important to cement his status with the organization long-term.

The fact Seibert demonstrated nerves of steel to fire over the game-winning field goal - albeit from close range - was incredibly pleasing. Washington has a dependable kicker at long last. Every fan should be thankful for that.

Loser No. 3

Commanders' red-zone offense

The Washington Commanders managed to win the game's final play, but it should have been more comfortable. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels moved the football consistently downfield despite coming under significant duress versus the New York Giants front seven. The problem came when it was time to turn red-zone opportunities into touchdowns.

Whether it was poor discipline or a lack of execution, the Commanders couldn't get the football into the end zone. They went 0-for-6 in this area of the field. In contrast, the Giants were 3-of-3. Washington won the contest thanks in no small part to kicker Austin Seibert's historic day, but this trend cannot continue against better opposition in the coming weeks.

Kliff Kingsbury will know that, too. The play-caller needs to find better ways of scheming things up when the margins get tighter. As previously stated, those at the line of scrimmage need to improve their pre-snap twitchiness. These are minor tweaks, so they should be pretty fixable at this early stage of the campaign.

Had the Commanders taken advantage of one or two red-zone chances, this game would have been out of sight long before Seibert nailed his record-breaking seventh effort.

Winner No. 4

Noah Brown - Commanders WR

Noah Brown was a new addition to the Commanders' passing attack after final cuts. After his expected bedding-in period, the talented but streaky wide receiver got his first chance to impress against the New York Giants. It's early days, but his physical gifts look capable of making a significant difference throughout the campaign.

Brown came up with a couple of nice catches during the win. His fourth-quarter grab on Washington's final drive played a leading role in the Commanders getting into field goal range to secure a morale-boosting triumph in front of their fans.

The former seventh-round selection out of Ohio State finished with three receptions from as many targets for 56 receiving yards. Brown looked confident and assured, gaining the trust of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels when the contest was hanging in the balance. That was the biggest positive above all else.

This should be a huge confidence boost for Brown. The wideout's role will increase once he becomes even more familiar with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's schematic demands. He might even become the WR2 opposite Terry McLaurin when it's all said and done.

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