The Commanders entered Week 15 with a question to answer. Were they the team that fought the Denver Broncos through a nail-biting loss in overtime, or was the team that got shut out by the Minnesota Vikings the following week closer to their true identity.

The 29-21 road victory over the division rival Giants was marred by mistakes and poor execution at times, but on balance the big plays and standout performances were enough to put Washington back in the win column for the first time since Week 5. Washington led the Giants from the field goal on the opening drive to through to the final whistle.

While a few plays might have reminded fans of the previous week’s shutout loss, overall the Commanders looked more like the team that came within a missed two-point conversion from beating the Broncos. While their playoff aspirations were extinguished a few weeks ago, some strong performances by rookies and some of the vets provide hope as thoughts turn to next season.

Here is a detailed look at who played where, who stood out and who didn’t in the Commanders’ road win over the New York Giants.

BIGGEST PLAYS OF THE GAME

Expected Points Added (EPA) quantifies the contribution of individual plays to a team’s scoring potential on a drive. These are all the plays with EPA greater than 2.4 or less than -2.4.

Biggest Plays for the Commanders

Q4, 13:56, 1st and 20 at WAS 49: Marcus Mariota pass complete deep middle to Terry McLaurin for 51 yards, touchdown. EPA 4.81

Q1, 11:49, 3rd and 10 at WAS 43: Marcus Mariota pass complete deep right to Noah Brown for 28 yards. EPA 3.08

Q4, 2:52, 2nd and 10 at WAS 25: Marcus Mariota pass complete deep middle to Ben Sinnott for 36 yards. EPA 2.92

Q2, 13:44, 2nd and 4 at NYG 16: Jacory Croskey-Merritt up the middle for 16 yards, touchdown. EPA 2.54

Q4, 10:27, 4th and 4 at WAS 4: Jaxson Dart pass incomplete short middle intended for Wan’Dale Robinson. EPA -2.65

Q4, 15:00, 4th and 18 at WAS 33: Younghoe Koo 51 yard field goal no good. EPA -2.81

Q1, 7:03, 4th and 6 at WAS 33: Younghoe Koo 51 yard field goal no good. EPA -2.89

Q2, 1:20, 4th and 20 at NYG 15: Cameron Johnston punts 48 yards, returned by Jaylin Lane for 63 yards, touchdown. Penalty on Zaire Barnes: Ineligible Downfield Kick, 5 yards (declined). EPA -4.56

Q2, 0:24, 2nd and 4 at WAS 35: Jaxson Dart pass short middle intended for Jalin Hyatt is intercepted by Mike Sainristil at WAS-21 and returned for 55 yards. EPA -7.09

Biggest Plays for the Giants

Q4, 3:49, 4th and 5 at WAS 16: Jaxson Dart pass complete deep right to Wan’Dale Robinson for 16 yards, touchdown. EPA 4.57

Q2, 3:43, 3rd and 10 at WAS 12: Tyrone Tracy run 12 yds, touchdown. EPA 3.88

Q3, 2:47, 4th and 1 at NYG 40: Jaxson Dart pass complete short left to Daniel Bellinger for 12 yards. EPA 3.11

Q4, 12.30, 1st and 10 at NYG 49: Jaxson Dart pass complete deep middle to Theo Johnson for 42 yards. EPA 2.95

Q3, 11:55, 1st and 10 at WAS 18: Jaxson Dart pass complete deep right to Tyrone Tracy for 18 yards, touchdown. EPA 2.63

Q2, 5:18, 2nd and 9 on WAS41: Jaxson Dart scrambles up the middle for 29 yards. EPA 2.40

Q4, 2:42, 1st and 10 at NYG 39: Jeremy McNichols left tackle for -9 yards. Jeremy McNichols fumbles, recovered by Abdul Carter at NYG-48 and returned for 1 yard (tackle by Jeremy McNichols). EPA -5.17

Q4, 5:50, 3rd and 12 at NYG 47: Marcus Mariota sacked by Dane Belton for 9 yards. Marcus Mariota fumbles (forced by Dane Belton), recovered by Brian Burns at WAS-44 and returned for 23 yards. EPA -5.26

Marcus Mariota played the whole game for Jayden Daniels, who has now been shut down for the rest of the season with an elbow injury. Mariota completed 10 of 19 passes for 211 yds and 1 TD, while taking 2 sacks for 16 yds. He fumbled twice, losing one.

Mariota was the Commanders’ second leading rusher with 10 carries for 43 yds.

His effort was good for a 32.2 Total QBR, which ranked 27th in the league in Week 15. It was by far his lowest mark of the season. His previous low was 51.3 against the Dolphins.

Bill Croskey-Merritt took full advantage of increased carries due to the absence of Chris Rodriguez, rushing 18 times for 96 yds (5.3 Y/A), 7 first downs and 1 TD. He fumbled once, but it was recovered by Washington. He achieved an impressive rushing success rate of 72.2. This is the second week in a row that Washington’s lead back had a success rate over 72%.

Accounts of Bill’s running room differ between stats services. PFF recorded 1.89 YBC/Att and 6 missed tackles forced, which paints a picture of an RB making his own opportunities. PFR, on the other hand, recorded 3.8 YBC/Att and 1 broken tackle, suggesting that he benefitted from the blocking in front of him.

Jeremy McNichols had possibly his worst game for the Commanders. He had a harder time getting out of the backfield than his teammate, resulting in 9 carries for just 6 forward yards. The reason for that is that he was getting hit behind the line. He averaged -0.78 YBC/Att per PFF or -0.2 YBC/Att per PFR. McNichols committed 1 fumble for a turnover in the fourth quarter.

McNichols had more success in the air, catching 1 target for 16 yds. He also graded well on 5 pass blocking reps, achieving an 83.5 grade from PFF (3rd highest on team).

He was penalized 5 yds for a false start near the beginning of the 4th quarter.

Terry McLaurin was the Commanders’ leading receiver, catching 3/4 targets (ADOT of 17.5 yds) for 69 yds and 1 TD, with a long of 51 yds and an average of 7.0 YAC/Rec. He was the third most productive receiver on the team on a per route basis at an impressive 3.14 Y/RR.

Deebo Samuel was second in receiving yards, with 3 rec/5 tgt (ADOT 8.8 yds) for 43 yds with 1 drop. Deebo was the 4th most productive Commanders’ receiver at 2.05 Y/RR. He caught 1/2 contested catches and averaged 5.3 YAC/Rec. Deebo was flagged for holding (10 yds) in the first quarter.

Noah Brown made a contested catch on his lone target for 28 yds. He only ran 5 routes before leaving the game with an injury and consequently led the Commanders in receiving productivity at an awesome 7.0 Y/RR.

Treylon Burks and Jaylin Lane combined for 3 targets without a catch. Burks collected his first flag as a Commander for offensive holding (10 yds).

With Zach Ertz out of the lineup, Ben Sinnott and John Bates each made big catches to make up for some of the absent starter’s production.

Sinnott caught his lone target for 36 yds, with 14 yds gained after the catch. He was primarily used as a run blocker, which made him the second most productive receiver on the team at 3.60 Y/RR in his limited opportunities to run routes. His run blocking earned a 63.8 grade from PFF.

John Bates also spent more than half his time on the field as a blocker. He also caught his only target and produced a 19 yd reception. His productivity as a receiver (1.46 Y/RR) was more modest than Sinnott’s. Bates also graded poorly as a run blocker (49.5) counter to his usual standard.

Andrew Wylie played 7 snaps at inline TE in heavy packages, mainly on running downs.

Starting LT Laremy Tunsil left the game twice with shoulder and oblique injuries and was replaced by Brandon Coleman. Between injuries, Tunsil played to his usual standard, allowing 0 pressures in pass protection and recording a 70.9 PFF run blocking grade, which was third highest on the team.

Coleman held his own in relief of the starter, also allowing 0 pressures, while recording the Commanders’ second highest run blocking grade, 71.3.

LG Chris Paul had his usual solid performance in pass protection, allowing just 1 hurry in 28 pass blocking snaps (3.6% Pressure Rate), while recording his usual below-average run blocking grade (44.6).

C Tyler Biadasz also allowed a single hurry (3.6% Pressure Rate) in pass protection and graded well in run blocking (66.2). Biadasz committed a false start (5 yds) in the fourth quarter. It was his second penalty this season.

RG Sam Cosmi didn’t allow a single pressure in pass protection and graded well as a run blocker (66.1).

RT Josh Conerly allowed a strip sack of Marcus Mariota and another hurry. While allowing a sack is never good, if an OT plays enough snaps against quality pass rushers, they are bound to happen, unless he’s Andrew Wylie. In the grand schemes of things, 2 pressures allowed in 28 dropbacks (7.1% Pressure Rate) is a little higher than you’d like to see from a starting OT, but it is far from a disaster. Conerly’s 78.1 run blocking grade was the highest on the team last week. He also made 2 fumble recoveries.

Conerly committed his 12th and 13th penalties of the season in the first quarter comprising a false start (5 yds assessed) and a holding call, which was declined. That brought his total to 9 accepted penalties in 14 games as a rookie.

Jacob Martin helped his case to get re-signed in the off-season. In New York, the NFL recorded 1 assisted tackle, 3 QB hits and 1 pass knock-down. PFF counted an additional 4 QB hurries in 33 dropbacks for an impressive total Pressure Rate of 21.2%.

Preston Smith said, “Hold my drink, Jacob”, before logging 2 QB hits and 2 hurries in just 15 pass rush snaps, for a team leading 26.7% Pressure Rate. Preston added 2 tackles, 1 TFL and 1 PBU for a very strong outing for a rotational DE.

Not to be outdone, starting OLB Von Miller chipped in 2 tackles, 1 assist, 1 TFL (3 total stops), 1 sack and 2 QB hits (11.5% Pressure Rate). Miller was the Commanders’ second most productive run stopper, with 2 stops in 12 rushing downs (16.7% Run Stop Rate).

Javon Kinlaw made 3 tackles and 1 assist, with 1 TFL and 1 forced fumble (2 total stops). His 2 run stops were on rushing downs resulting in a 11.1% Run Stop Rate, which is very good for an iDL. Kinlaw made some impact in the pass rush with 2 QB hurries (7.1% Pressure Rate). He also committed a 5 yard neutral zone infraction penalty in the first quarter.

Eddie Goldman played just 6 snaps in run defense. He made 1 tackle, which PFF classified as a run stop (16.7% Run Stop Rate). He also generated 1 QB hurry in 10 dropbacks per PFF (10% Pressure Rate).

Johnny Newton made 4 tackles per official league stats and 1 QB hurry per PFF.

Daron Payne did make the official league stat sheet. PFF recorded 1 QB hurry and 1 missed tackle.

Bobby Wagner led the team with 6 solo tackles and was second on the team in combined tackles with 7. He made three stops, including two against the run (8.7% Run Stop Rate).

PFF credits him 2 QB hurries, but only 1 pass rush attempt. I’m not quite sure how that works.

In coverage, PFF credits him with allowing 4 rec on 5 tgt for 51 yds and 1 TD. PFR counted 4 tgt and 3 rec for 27 yds and the TD.

Frankie Luvu made 3 tackles and 2 assists with 1 stop. He generated 3 QB hurries in 16 pass rush attempts (18.8% Pressure Rate). PFF thinks he allowed 5 rec/5 tgt for 49 yds in coverage for. PFR was just 1 target and reception off at 4/4 for 39 yds.

Despite playing just 14 snaps, Jordan Magee managed to record 2 tackles and 1 assist, with 1 stop. In 8 coverage snaps, he was targeted once for a 10 yd reception.

The Giants attempted to pick on back-up CB Antonio Hamilton in coverage, but it backfired on them. According to PFF, he was targeted 7 times, allowing just 2 receptions (28.6% Rec) for 21 yds (0.553 Y/Cov Snp). PFR recorded 9 tgt and 3 rec (33.3%) for 22 yds (0.579 Y/Cov Snp). Either way, his rate of yardage allowed was in the lockdown corner range.

Official league stats record 2 tackles and 2 PBU. PFF classified 1 of the tackles as s stop.

The one blemish on an otherwise exceptional performance was a 5 yard illegal contact penalty in the third quarter.

Noah Igbinoghene made 5 tackles and 1 stop, with 1 missed tackle. He blitzed once and recorded a QB hit. In 44 coverage snaps, he allowed 5 targets and 4 receptions for 65 yards (1.48 Y/Cov Snp). Iggy was penalized 5 yds for defensive holding in the second quarter.

Mike Sainristil split time on both sides of the formation, with around 2/3 of his time spent at left outside CB. Sainristil recorded 3 tackles, 1 PBU, and 1 INT returned for 55 yds. In coverage, PFF recorded 5 tgt, 3 rec for 40 yds (0.93 Y/Cov Snp) and 1 TD. PFR counted 7 tgt, 4 rec for 57 yds (1.33 Y/Cov Snp) and the TD.

Quan Martin led the team with 8 combined tackles, including 4 tackles and 4 assists with 2 stops. He was targeted 4 times in 41 coverage snaps, allowing just 1 reception for 10 yds per PFF, with 1 PBU. PFR recorded 5 tgt, 2 rec for 22 yds.

Will Harris made 1 tackle and 2 assists, with 1 missed tackle. According to PFF, in 38 coverage snaps, he was targeted once without allowing a reception.

Jeremy Reaves made 3 tackles, 1 TFL, and 3 stops. He was not targeted in 17 coverage snaps. He was called for a DPI penalty in the endzone to give the Giants the ball at the Washington 1 yard line in the fourth quarter.

Jaylin Lane returned 3 punts for 8, 20, 63 yards (Average: 30.3 YPA) with 1 TD and 1 fair catch. That effort brought his punt return yardage total to 314 yds, which ranks 6th in the NFL. His 14.3 YPA average also ranks 6th among punt returners with more than 3 return attempts. He is in a five-way tie for most punt return TDs, with 2 for the season.

Tress Way and Larry Izzo’s coverage unit continued their reign of dominance in punt return yardage. Way booted 4 punts for 183 yards (45.8 YPA), with a long of 55 and 3 landed inside the Giants’ 20 yard line. Two of his punts were fair caught, and 2 were returned for 7 total yards, resulting in a net average of 44.0 yards per punt.

Thanks in part to the coverage unit, Tressler William is all by himself in first place among punters (min 10 punts) in return average at 3.8 YPR. The next best punter is the Cardinals’ Pat O’Donnell at 5.0 YPR, then after him is Buffalo’s Mitch Wishnowsky at 6.4 YPR.

Tress couldn’t do what he does without LS Tyler Ott’s perfect spin and placement. Ott once again avoided drawing attention.

Jake Moody made field goals from 39, 42 and 46 yds, with no misses. He went 2/3 on extra points. Moody was also penalized for a kickoff out of bounds, immediately following the missed extra point near the end of the second quarter.

Chase Edmonds and Jeremy McNichols combined on 4 kick returns for 73 yds (18.3 YPA), with no fair catches or drops.

Ale Kaho returned from a three game absence due to concussion. He made a tackle in special teams coverage. All-Pro Reavo had one as well.

Nick Bellore and Jordan Magee each made 1 tackle and missed another.

Kain Medrano, Tyler Owens and Colson Yankoff each missed one tackle. Owens was also penalized 9 yds for an illegal block above the waist on a kickoff return in the third quarter.