Five takeaways from Washington’s win over New York

The Washington Commanders have secured their first win of the 2024 season with a 21-18 victory over the New York Giants. Here are five takeaways from the afternoon.

1. The Commanders have found a kicker.

The Commanders have been on the hunt for a new kicker since releasing Brandon McManus in June. Austin Seibert, who last played a professional game in Week 2 of the 2023 season, is the latest to submit his resume as the long-term answer, and he made a strong case for it.

Seibert, an Oklahoma alum, went 7-of-7 on his field goal attempts against the Giants, which set a single-game record for the franchise. While only one of his attempts was longer than 33 yards — a 45-yard attempt in the second quarter — they were enough to help finish all but one of Washington’s drives with points, which was a problem for the team in the preseason and Week 1.

Seibert said at his press conference that it was a good way to introduce himself to the team, and head coach Dan Quinn would agree with that sentiment.

“To have a franchise record in your very first game, that’s a big deal,” Quinn said. “So, it’s not easy going into a new locker room without all the time and chemistry with everybody. I thought for him and [P] Tress [Way] and [LS Tyler] Ott, they really did a good job of helping him get there.”

Prior to being signed by the Commanders a week ago, Seibert kept himself prepared by kicking at a pine tree in a lot by his house. With his wife filming him and daughter providing support, Seibert said he kicks “25 to 30 balls” at the tree. As he prepared to hit the 30-yard game-winner, he told himself to “go out there and get the tree.”

As unusual as it is, the ritual works out for Seibert, although he probably won’t need to kick at that tree for a while after Sunday’s performance.