Despite Sunday's devastating NFC Championship loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, 55-23, the game shed light on the promise the Washington Commanders have under new leadership and a strong, young roster.

Although Jayden Daniels was one of the most notable stories in the NFL this season, another Commanders rookie also had a stellar season: cornerback Mike Sainristil. The second-round pick was a large part of the Commanders' defensive success, leading all rookies in tackles with 62.

"Mike's somebody that, he's hard to fool," Head Coach Dan Quinn said. "Much like Jayden, he's got a little bit of an older soul about him, he takes to coaching quickly, he doesn't repeat mistakes. And so, for him, the opportunity, when it comes to go and nail it -- he delivered on that."

Sainristil delivered throughout the regular season, finishing with 93 tackles and two interceptions. He credits his background playing wide receiver for the first two years of his collegiate career at the University of Michigan to helping him understand the receivers he is tasked with covering and staying calm as a defender.

"Just being able to not panic when the ball is in the air, whether I'm able to make a play to get an interception or if I am just looking at the receiver and knowing he's about to catch it," Sainristil said. "Just being able to stay calm and play through his hands and not panic, like I just said. Being able to have that in my back pocket helps me, aside from being able to understand concepts, formations, what types of plays I could get, stuff like that."

Sainristil continued to rise to the occasion throughout the Commanders' dreamlike playoff run. In the third quarter of the team's wild card bout with the Buccaneers, Sainristil took over guarding Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans, holding the 1,000-yard receiver to just one catch for eight yards in the fourth quarter; Evans had put up five catches for 84 yards and a touchdown before Sainristil took over.

"He's a star," Safety Jeremy Chinn said in a press conference ahead of the NFC Championship. "I'm super happy for him, super proud of him. Just from the day he stepped foot in this building, the way he carries himself and the way he's come into work. And you guys can see it on Sundays."

In his return to the state of Michigan, Sainristil held Lions' wide receiver Jameson Williams to one reception for 19 yards despite four targets in the divisional round. He also nabbed two pivotal interceptions, which helped swing momentum in Washington's favor and keep Detroit from sneaking back into the game.

With 35 seconds left in the first half, Sainristil jumped the route to get in front of Williams and pick off quarterback Jared Goff's deep end zone pass and provide momentum heading into the second half. Sainristil's next interception came on a wildcat trick play in the fourth quarter. He again trusted his eyes to read Williams and get in front of running back Jamyr Gibbs, giving Washington the ball back to extend their lead.

Sainristil etched his name in history books as the first rookie to record two interceptions in a playoff game since 2015 when safety Ha'Sean "Ha-Ha" Clinton-Dix also nabbed two as a member of the Seattle Seahawks. Along with the pair of interceptions, Sainristil finished the game with four tackles and two pass breakups.

"He played lights out," Daniels said in a postgame press conference following the team's divisional win over the Lions. "He got us the ball back, made plays when the play needed to be made. I'm happy for Mike. Obviously two picks in a playoff game, a game like this, obviously coming back to Michigan especially and us being the same draft class, I'm just so excited for him. But the whole defense played lights out. They made plays and got turnovers."

"He plays bigger than he is," Chinn said. "I mean, he's aggressive. He has great vision; great eyes and he trusts his instinct. He trusts what he sees, and he makes a play."

In his first year in the league, Sainristil exemplifies qualities of a seasoned defensive back. He understands the balance between sticking to fundamentals and trusting his instincts, and his ability to take risks at the right time makes him such a significant threat.

"Over the course of the game, there's probably three to five plays that for sure are going to look like what you saw on film," Sainristil explained. "So, when those plays come about, don't be scared to make it. The rest of a football game is just you being a player, you just reacting to what you see."

The loss in Philadelphia shows there are still remnants of a rookie learning his way. Sainristil garnered a late hit on running back Saquon Barkley as he ran out of bounds on third down. It cost 15 yards and a first down that ultimately kept the Eagles' drive alive to end in a touchdown rather than a field goal attempt.

Sainristil's rookie mistake shouldn't overshadow his defensive prowess. When he matched up against top Eagles' wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in the regular season, however, Sainristil allowed just two receptions for 31 yards.

While there are still pieces to build on for the Commanders, Sainristil has proven himself as a building block within the defense. With a new era of Washington football underway, it's clear that Washington has a star in Sainristil, who will only continue to improve his game.