LANDOVER, Md. — In a decisive performance, Marcus Mariota took over for the injured rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels early in the second quarter, leading the Washington Commanders to a commanding 40-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
However, the spotlight quickly shifted to concerns regarding Daniels after the No. 2 overall pick and a strong contender for offensive rookie of the year exited due to a rib injury. His mother assured fans on social media that “he’s fine.” Given the decisive nature of the score, it seemed unlikely he would return, and Daniels spent the second half on the sidelines, enjoying lighthearted conversations with his teammates.
Despite the loss of their starting quarterback, the Commanders (5-2) excelled for most of the game. Daniels had made an early impact with a 46-yard run and a few completed passes during their initial possession. Washington was already on the scoreboard thanks to Fowler’s impressive interception return for a touchdown, following Andy Dalton’s first interception, which was complemented by a second interception from Emmanuel Forbes, who played after being a healthy scratch the previous week.
Washington’s defense was outstanding, allowing only 180 yards while successfully stopping seven of ten third-down attempts and sacking Dalton twice. With Mariota stepping in, the offense flourished, accumulating 421 yards against a Panthers (1-6) squad that has allowed a record number of points through the first six games of any team in Super Bowl history. Mariota completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards, throwing touchdown passes to tight ends Zach Ertz and Ben Sinnott.
Additionally, Brian Robinson Jr. made a strong return from a knee injury that kept him out of the previous week’s loss against Baltimore. He also found the end zone. Washington’s 27-point lead at halftime marked the largest for the franchise since they led 28-0 against Dallas back in December 2005.
As for Carolina, their tumultuous season continued as Dalton took over as the starting quarterback, replacing 2023’s No. 1 pick Bryce Young. Dalton completed 11 of 16 passes for a mere 93 yards, while Young entered late in the game, managing to complete two passes that resulted in negative yardage.
Running back Chuba Hubbard, who had been performing well by averaging over 100 rushing yards over the prior four games, was held to just 52 yards on 17 carries. His sole touchdown came in the fourth quarter, long after the outcome had been decided, during which fans had already left the stadium to avoid traffic.
In terms of injuries, the Panthers suffered another setback when running back Raheem Blackshear exited with a shoulder injury sustained during a kickoff return in the third quarter. Tight end Tommy Tremble was also inactive due to back issues after being listed as questionable.
On the other hand, the Commanders not only dealt with Daniels’ injury but also lost rookie left tackle Brandon Coleman to a concussion in the first half.
Looking ahead, the Panthers are set to face the Denver Broncos next Sunday, while the Commanders will take on the Chicago Bears at home the same day.
