The Panthers had a chance to play a competitive game, and they did nothing of the sort.
The Carolina Panthers faced a Washington Commanders team that was largely relying on their backup quarterback while featuring one of the worst defenses in the league. The Panthers still couldn’t put up even the slightest fight.
First Quarter
The Panthers took the ball first and drove right down the field and worked their way into scoring range. They got no points though, as Andy Dalton airmailed a screen pass on third down that was picked off and returned for a touchdown. The offense didn’t respond and went three and out on their next possession.
The Commanders moved the ball with ease on their first possession starting with a massive designed run for quarterback Jayden Daniels. They looked poised to blow the game open, but the Panthers defense did enough to hold for a field goal. They benefited from Daniels tweaking something during a run. He had to leave the game after the field goal.
The Panthers, now down 10-0, had another drive cut short by an Andy Dalton interception. He expected Diontae Johnson to break inside, but the receiver stopped his route. Fortunately, the defense was able to hold the now Marcus Mariota led Commanders to a three and out.
Second Quarter
The Panthers had their own three and out to give the Commanders the ball for their third scoring drive. They got a big chunk on a pass interference call and otherwise called run plays on their way to the end zone.
The Panthers were able to grind a few plays out towards midfield but were forced into a fourth down. They tried a quick handoff that was met by a defensive lineman right at the exchange point. The Commanders didn’t have to move the ball to kick the field goal.
The Panthers went three and out once again, which set up the defense to give up another scoring drive in the final two minutes of the half. The Commanders unleashed Mariota through the air, and he marched down the field on a drive that was capped off by a Zach Ertz touchdown.
Third Quarter
The Commanders ran the second half kickoff out to the 45 yard line, not that they needed the good field position. They steamrolled the Panthers defense on their way to a 34-0 lead.
After another three and out, the Commanders won just about every offensive play on their way to another scoring drive, though this one was only a field goal.
Fourth Quarter
The Panthers left Andy Dalton in as the game transitioned into the fourth quarter. He found Ja’Tavion Sanders on a deep pass down the middle and a few good runs by both Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders set up a goal to go opportunity. Hubbard scored on a run that he bounced out to the left side.
The Panthers had multiple opportunities to end the next Commanders drive on third down, but the defensive line was chasing ghosts trying to tackle Mariota. Eventually they got their stop inside the 10 and forced a field goal.
Bryce Young got some reps on the Panthers final drive of the game. Ja’Tavion Sanders sacrificed some YAC doing who knows what on second down. Young flipped it out to Miles Sanders on a third down swing pass that had no shot, and the Panthers had to punt. The Commanders ran out the clock.
Overview
It might have been the worst performance of what’s been a season full of poor performances. The Panthers weren’t the least bit competitive in a situation in which they should have been. We’ll see where they go from here.
They play another 4:00 Eastern game as they head west to face the Denver Broncos next week.