Landover, Maryland – Here’s what stood out from the Commanders’ 21-6 loss to the Giants:
1. Right from the start of the season, it felt eerily familiar. The offensive line struggled again, while quarterback play lacked any real spark. On defense, there wasn’t much chance for aggression since the Giants never trailed. All that optimism built up during training camp seemed to evaporate quickly, leaving a palpable disappointment in the visiting locker room at Northwest Stadium. Many of the players had hoped for a different outcome this year, but after just one game, it felt all too similar.
2. Abdul Carter waited patiently on the sidelines before finally making his NFL debut after just five defensive snaps. It wasn’t a shock that he didn’t start, considering he’s listed as a backup outside linebacker behind Brian Burns. His involvement came during passing situations on third and fifth downs, and his entrance led to a false start by tight end Zach Ertz. Initially positioned inside, he moved to the outside rush in the next series. Carter made a noticeable impact on special teams, deflecting a punt from Tress Way, and later stopped rookie Jacoley Crosskey Merritt for a four-yard loss in the third quarter. He ended the game with three tackles and half a sack.
3. It was a tough day for Joe Shane’s first-round pick, Deonte Banks (2023), who lost the starting job to Cor’dale Flott. Evan Neal (2022), also struggling, faced setbacks after his shift from tackle to guard didn’t pan out as hoped. He couldn’t manage to unseat Greg Van Roten as the starting right guard. It’s still early in the season, and there’s time for Banks to find his footing, but the early signs in 2025 aren’t looking too promising.
