LANDOVER, Md. -- Deebo Samuel and green grass is a good combination for the Washington Commanders .

Add in Laremy Tunsil and John Bates , and it's even better. Washington showed off its new-look run game to perfection on Samuel's 19-yard fourth-quarter rushing touchdown to create breathing space from the Giants , and the defense did the rest en route to a 21-6 season-opening win.

Washington has long valued Bates for the dirty work -- fellow tight end Zach Ertz is one of many teammates who call him "the best blocking tight end in the league" -- and they showed how much they valued Tunsil and Samuel this offseason, trading a total of five picks to acquire them from the Texans and 49ers , respectively.

"First of all, it started up front," Samuel said. "It started with the

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