BREAKING NEWS: Washington dominates the Carolina Panthers at Northwest Stadium to retain 1st place in the NFC East

The Panthers offense ranks 25th in the league in yards gained and 28th in points scored, while the defensive ranks for yards and points are 29th & 31st. With Washington boasting the top-scoring offense in the NFL, this appears to be the ideal matchup for Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, and an opportunity for Joe Whitt’s defense

Washington kicked off and brought down the Carolina return man at the 30-yard line. A holding call moved the Panthers back to the 20 to start their first offensive drive.

Two quick first downs on 3 plays moved the ball into Washington territory at the 49-yard line. Two plays later, the Panthers had 1st & 10 at Washington’s 26 yard line after a 17-yard completion to Diontae Johnson.

Two plays later, it was 3rd & 9 at the 25 yard line. Washington’s defense came up huge with a pick six. It was a terrible play by Panthers QB Andy Dalton. Under backside pressure from Clelin Ferrell, Dalton missed the checkdown to his RB and put the ball right into Dante Fowler’s hands. Fowler had nothing but green grass between himself and the end zone at the far end of the field. It went in the books as a 67-yard return on Washington’s 2nd interception of the season.

It was Washington’s first defensive score of the season, and a shellshocked Panthers team, who had been moving the ball easily on the opening drive, went to the sideline to find themselves down 7-0 after the PAT.

On the kickoff, the Panthers had a good return to the 35-yard line.

After a run & a short pass completion, it was 3rd & 4 at the 41 yard line. Dalton’s pass on third down skipped off the receiver’s hands under tremendous pressure from CB Mikey Sainristil to force the 3 & out.

Olamide Zaccheaus made the fair catch at his own 10-yard line, and Jayden Daniels came out onto the field for the first time in the game with a 7-point lead.

On the first offensive play of the game for Washington, Jayden Daniels kept the ball on a zone read and ran right, exploding for 46 yards to the Carolina 44-yard line.

Two plays later, it was 3rd & 1 at the 36-yard line. Daniels handed the ball to Brian Robinson on back to-back plays for 14 yards and a pair of first downs.

With 1st down at the 21, Daniels kept the ball for 7 yards, then handed the ball to Robinson for 6 yards, bringing up 1st & goal at the 8 yard line.

The Commanders had marched down the field on 7 straight runs. Two plays later, it was 3rd & goal from the 9. Daniels completed a pass to Ekeler, but he was tackled right away at the 5-yard line. Austin Seibert came on and hit the chip shot 23-yard field goal to open up a 10-0 lead. Daniels had attempted (and completed) only two passes on the drive for just 6 yards. Washington had 84 rushing yards on the opening drive, with Jayden Daniels leading all rushers with 50 yards, but he was clearly feeling some discomfort in his rib area on the sideline.

The Panthers start their 3rd offensive drive at their 25 yard line following good kickoff coverage by Washington’s special teams.

On the second play of the drive, it appeared that Andy Dalton threw another interception. There was a flag on the play, but it was against the offense, and the Commanders were able to celebrate the interception by 2nd year cornerback Emmanuel Forbes. There was a blocking foul called on the return, so the Commanders ended up with the ball on the Carolina 35-yard line, ready to put their foot on the Panthers necks with 02:27 remaining in the first quarter.

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