Game Balls | 3 standouts in Washington's season opening win against New York
The Washington Commanders picked up where they left off last year at Northwest Stadium and put a tally in the win column to start off the 2025 regular season with a 21-6 victory over the New York Giants. Defensive tackle Daron Payne, wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. and running back Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt delivered strong performances in the Week 1 win.
Daron Payne
Penalties aside, Washington's defense had an impressive afternoon at Northwest Stadium, and arguably no one shined more in the group than Payne. The veteran defensive tackle led the charge on the defensive front throughout the contest, busting through blocks to make life difficult for Russell Wilson and the Giants' running backs.
Payne disrupted a screen pass on third-and-11 during the Giants' opening drive to force a three-and-out and kept going from there. In the second quarter, also on third down, he brought down Wilson for a loss of nine yards. The sack was his 35th for Washington, which moved him past Andre Carter into sole possession of No. 9 all-time in franchise history in official sacks (since 1982).
The climb on that list continued in the third quarter, when Payne got in on the fun with Dorance Armstrong to sack Wilson for a loss of two yards to bring up fourth down. That half-sack tied him up with Dave Butz and Montez Sweat for eighth place on the franchise all-time list. At the end of the third, Payne found a new way to be a terror for the Giants offense, as he batted down a pass on another third down. He capped off that huge play with an airplane celebration -- fitting since Payne was soaring in Week 1.
Deebo Samuel
On Friday, Samuel was prompted with a question about what he'd tell fans who are excited to see how Kliff Kingsbury uses him. Samuel responded with a smirk, "1 o'clock Sunday."
The implication that viewers would be tickled by the versatile weapon's implementation was realized in the season opener. He was targeted as a deeper option, like when Daniels threw a 21-yard pass to him for a first down on third-and-11. He was also used in the backfield, the most impactful case of which came in the fourth quarter. Daniels had already found Samuel for 19 yards on the drive as the Commanders looked to close out the game up 14-6. Daniels handed the ball off to Samuel, who shrugged off tacklers and dove into the end zone for Washington's third touchdown of the game.
Samuel's first official game with the Commanders finished with eight touches, 96 yards and a touchdown. Not too shabby. There's a lot to be excited about with the multi-talented wideout, particularly as the chemistry between Daniels and Samuel seems to keep growing by the week.
Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt
The hype around the rookie running back heading into Week 1? Quite frankly a little "un-Bill-ievable." The Commanders coaching staff vocalized a fondness for his play during preseason. He flashed when he saw the field in August, particularly against the Bengals when he went on a 27-yard run for a touchdown.
But there were still questions on whether Croskey-Merritt would be as effective right away going up against NFL starters when it counted. He quelled those concerns with an 11-yard carry on a drive in the second quarter, and just a handful of plays later, Croskey-Merritt collected the ball from Daniels, ran right and put himself in the end zone for six. With the score, the man they call "Bill" became the first Washington running back to rush for a touchdown in his debut since Alfred Morris in Week 1 of the 2012 season.
Then, in the fourth quarter, the rookie was responsible for one of the day's loudest crowd reactions as he picked up the ball on Washington's own five-yard line and went on a 42-yard tear (the Commanders' longest play of the game). Croskey-Merritt's regular season debut ended with 10 carries, 82 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
Whatever the coaches wanted him to do, he said he "was going to do that 100%." It paid off, and the Bill hype train shows no signs of slowing down.
