'I just needed one lane' – A rookie has his breakout performance and proves Adam Peters right by ending a franchise streak

Lane showed his speed and vision and got up to 20.56 mph on his punt return. He spoke to the media after the game and gave credit to his teammates' blocking, and he knew he just needed that one lane.

"First off, just glory to God, but it's really just my teammates," Lane said. "They work their tails off blocking for me, speaking life into me. They gave me all the confidence in the world back there. All I told them was that I just needed one lane and I'll make the rest happen, and that's what they did for me.”

He also gave credit to wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who almost took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown, and Lane said it just gave the team energy that kept going through the whole game.

Special teams were a massive point on Sunday around the league, with multiple games being decided in the last seconds, and having someone who can make a difference can be what decides a game throughout the season. The Commanders knew they needed a punt returner, and Adam Peters went and got whom he thought was the best.

Adam Peters was right

Looking back at the 2025 NFL draft, Adam Peters had his big board built out of the players he liked, and once the Commanders were on the clock in the fourth round, he knew exactly who he wanted. Peters called his shot and said that Lane was the "top punt returner" on their board, and it only took three weeks of the season to take a return for a touchdown.

The Commanders are still working on the kicking situation, but the special teams unit as a whole looks much improved in the return game, and on defense as well. There were a lot of games decided in the final minutes by special teams last season, and a few that didn't go Washington's way, but they may change this season with the upgrades this offseason.