Washington Commanders (5-2) – Carolina Panthers (1-6): 40-7
For its first release, outside garbage timesince week 18 of last season, Marcus Mariota played against the Panthers, replacing a quickly injured Jayden Daniels.
Without straining his talent, the Hawaiian allowed the Commanders to win very quietly and bounce back after their defeat in Baltimore last week.
Dante Fowler sets the tone
The Panthers had the first offensive possession of the game, it was the Commanders and Dante Fowler who first set Northwest Stadium on fire. On a third attempt, 25 yards from the Washington goal, Andy Dalton (11/16, 93 yards, 2 interceptions) could have been satisfied with an incomplete pass to give Eddy Pineiro the opportunity to open the foot score.
He could also have gotten rid of the ball out of bounds. But no, the veteran quarterback made a rookie mistake by targeting Miles Sanders for a checkdown…While this one had his head turned in another direction. Dante Fowler, an opportunist, didn't ask for that much and registered the first touchdown of the game 67 yards further (7-0).
Commanders in their hands
What followed was ultimately just a walk in the park for the locals. Successes from Austin Seibert (8/8) against the posts, with successive touchdowns, starting with that of Brian Robinson (12 races, 71 yards, 1 touchdown) at the start of the 2nd quarter (17-0). Even the injury exit by Jayden Daniels did not change anything, Marcus Mariota (18/23, 205 yards, 2 touchdowns) being effective in relief, like on the pass thrown towards Zach Ertz (4 receptions, 40 yards, 1 touchdown) in the end zone just before halftime (27-0).
This part being nothing more than a long quiet river for the Commanders, the touchdown scored by rookie Ben Sinnott on his first career reception and the first series after returning from the locker room was in no way surprising (34-0). No more than the play action executed to perfection by Marcus Mariota. From then on, it was no longer a question for the Panthers of saving what honor they had left this Sunday.
Something done through their best offensive player this season, Chuba Hubbard (17 races, 52 yards, 1 touchdown), at the conclusion of a series smoothly led by Andy Dalton (37-7). And then, nothing more, except a last field goal from Austin Seibert and a totally unproductive comeback from Bryce Young for Carolina. The Commanders continue their race at the top of the NFC East.
