Carolina Panthers (1-5) at Washington Commanders (4-2)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EDT, CBS
BetMGM NFL Odds: Commanders favored by 8
Against the spread: Panthers 1-5; Commanders 4-2
Series record: Washington leads 10-7.
Last meeting: Washington defeated Carolina 27-21 on November 21, 2021, in Carolina.
Last week: The Panthers suffered a loss to the Falcons 38-20, while the Commanders fell to the Ravens 30-23.
The Panthers’ offense has struggled this season, ranking overall at 25th, with a rushing offense finished at 22nd and passing offense at 23rd. In terms of scoring, they sit at 28th. Defensively, the Panthers are even worse, ranking 29th overall, 30th against the run, 23rd against the pass, and 32nd in points allowed. Contrarily, the Commanders have found more success offensively, holding the 5th spot overall, with their rushing game also at 5th, passing at 13th, and scoring at an impressive 3rd. In defense, they sit at 22nd overall, 22nd against the run, 19th against the pass, and 22nd in scoring defense.
In terms of turnover differential, the Commanders are plus-1 while the Panthers sit at minus-4. For the Panthers, wide receiver Diontae Johnson is a notable player to watch. Following a lackluster performance against the Bears, he made a strong comeback against the Falcons with six receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown. Johnson stands as Carolina’s leading receiver, with 29 catches for 340 yards and three touchdowns, making him a challenging opponent for Washington’s secondary.
On the other side, rookie defensive tackle Johnny Newton will be essential for the Commanders. With Jonathan Allen sidelined for the season due to a torn pectoral muscle, Newton, alongside his teammates Daron Payne and Phidarian Mathis, will need to step up. After recovering from offseason foot surgery, Newton, who was selected 36th in the draft, is eager to prove his worth.
A crucial matchup to observe will be Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard against the Commanders’ run defense. Hubbard has been impressive recently, averaging over 100 rushing yards in his last four games and 5.9 yards per carry throughout the past five. He will challenge a Washington defense that has allowed a significant amount of yards per attempt this season. The Panthers are expected to lean on Hubbard along with Miles Sanders to control the game tempo.
Injury updates indicate that Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble has returned to practice after missing last week’s game due to a concussion. Carolina is also hoping to get right tackle Taylor Moton (triceps) and outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (shoulder) back in action. Other players like running back Jonathan Brooks, defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy, and defensive back Sam Franklin have returned to practice as well, but their game status remains uncertain. For Washington, running back Brian Robinson Jr. is working to return after being sidelined due to a knee injury, while defensive end Dorance Armstrong might miss the game following a rib injury.
Historically, Washington has triumphed in three of their last four matchups. Interestingly, the Panthers have found success during three of their four recent visits to Landover, Maryland. Furthermore, this game features a unique dynamic as both teams were once coached by Ron Rivera, who led the Panthers from 2011-2019 and the Commanders from 2020-2023. The Panthers are currently on a four-game losing streak, having been outscored 108-54 throughout these losses. Defensive back Jeremy Chinn and linebacker Frankie Luvu will also bring their prior experience from Carolina to the game.
As far as statistics go, Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton has a record of 1-3 as a starter this season, while he continues to lead over rookie Bryce Young, who was benched after two games. Emerging as a reliable target, wide receiver Jalen Coker has been taking snaps from the recently drafted second-round pick, Jonathan Mingo. The Panthers’ defense is allowing an alarming average of 33.8 points per game, marking one of the worst records in the Super Bowl era. Linebacker Trevin Wallace has set a record for tackles made by a Carolina player in the opening two games with 24. The Panthers are also struggling defensively in the red zone, granting touchdowns on 75% of their opponents’ entries, the second worst in the league. Kicker Eddy Piñeiro has been a bright spot, making 9 out of 10 field goals and successfully converting all 10 extra point attempts. For the Commanders, they encountered a season-low rushing total of 52 yards during the loss against the Ravens. Rookie QB Jayden Daniels established himself with impressive stats, including 1,400 passing yards and 300 rushing yards within his first six games. He threw for a personal best of 269 yards against Baltimore, with two touchdown passes directed at Terry McLaurin. Robinson leads his team with 325 rushing yards and has successfully rushed for five touchdowns this season.
In fantasy football, Commanders running back Austin Ekeler may receive the majority of carries, however, Robinson remains a solid option because of his role near the goal line.