The Washington Commanders did a good job in Week 9. There was nothing particularly flashy about their triumph over the New York Giants – certainly not at the level that fans enjoyed against the Chicago Bears – but in divisional battles, winning is all that matters.

The commanders were never really in danger of losing this game. Towards the end of the game it became tighter than necessary. However, the new professionalism and mentality within the building ensured that they exceeded this limit.

Washington is now 7-2 this season and appears capable of reaching the postseason. Your fairytale run to the start of the campaign continues. It could also force general manager Adam Peters into a more aggressive mindset with just two days remaining until the 2024 trade deadline.

This is for the not too distant future. For now, here are five winners and two losers from Washington's impressive win at MetLife Stadium in Week 9.

Winner #1

Commander interior OL

A primary goal of the Washington Commanders offensive line was keeping Dexter Lawrence II out of the backfield. The Pro Bowl nose tackle had nine sacks this season. He was truly tireless, so the challenge could not have been greater for a unit that has made great progress in a short space of time.

The Commanders' interior held up against the league's most dominant player at the position. Washington used Lawrence early and often as a doubleheader, with Tyler Biadasz and Sam Cosmi primarily tasked with neutralizing the player's biggest threat.

Nick Allegretti also deserves recognition for the way he has dedicated himself to the task of countering Lawrence's greatest threat. The lineman finished the game with six tackles, but his ability to wreak havoc in obvious pass-rushing situations was mostly non-existent. That was all the commanders needed to put points on the board.

This is a testament to the cohesive approach of the interior, the coaching they receive from Bobby Johnson and the blocking concepts implemented by Kliff Kingsbury. It was a collaborative effort, which is probably the most gratifying aspect of all.