Carolina Panthers vs. Washington Commanders Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 20th 2024

Preview and Prediction

Despite starting the season with a 4-2 record, the Washington Commanders believe they have yet to reach their full potential.

Their upcoming game against the Carolina Panthers, who will be visiting Landover, Md., presents another opportunity for the Commanders to improve their performance.

"Our focus is on ourselves," stated Commanders coach Dan Quinn. "We have a lot to work on and we will continue to sharpen our game as much as possible."

Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was selected second overall, has been a standout for Washington in his first six games. He currently leads the league in completion percentage at 75.3% and has rushed for 322 yards, the second-highest among all quarterbacks.

"We have a talented quarterback in Jayden," Quinn praised. "I am impressed with what he brings to our team."

This will be the second consecutive game for the Panthers to face a promising rookie quarterback. In their last game, they were defeated by the Chicago Bears' top pick, Caleb Williams, who threw for 304 yards and two touchdowns.

Carolina coach Dave Canales acknowledged the challenge of defending against Daniels and emphasized the importance of tight coverage in the secondary. Daniels has already thrown six touchdowns and scored four rushing touchdowns.

"Jayden has been making plays and extending them," Canales said. "His game continues to evolve."

Daniels also mentioned the return of running back Brian Robinson Jr., who missed the last game due to a knee injury. "Having B-Rob back will be beneficial with his ability to run the ball and break tackles," Daniels said.

The Commanders are aiming for their first 5-2 start since 2018, but their four-game winning streak was snapped last week by the Baltimore Ravens in a 30-23 loss.

The Panthers, on the other hand, have lost three consecutive games and currently hold the worst record in the NFC at 1-5. Running back Chuba Hubbard has been a bright spot for the team, ranking third in the league with 485 rushing yards. Quarterback Andy Dalton has also been solid, throwing for 896 yards and seven touchdowns with a 71.4% completion rate in four starts since taking over for Bryce Young.

Although this is Quinn's first year with Washington, he is familiar with the Panthers from his time as the coach for the Atlanta Falcons. "They have a strong run game and utilize play-action passes," Quinn noted. "The addition of Andy has brought balance to their offense."

Two former Panthers, linebacker Frankie Luvu and safety Jeremy Chinn, now play for the Commanders.

Despite their struggles, Canales stated that the Panthers will stick to their philosophy of maintaining a balanced offense. "We want to stay balanced for as long as possible and remain committed to our core principles," he said.

Carolina will look to take advantage of the absence of Washington defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, who suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in the last game. The Commanders have also placed defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste on injured reserve and are waiting to see if defensive end Dorance Armstrong, who did not practice on Wednesday due to rib injury, will be available.

To fill the void on the defensive line, Washington has added defensive tackle Sheldon Day from the practice squad and free-agent defensive end Jalyn Holmes.

"This will definitely change our rotation," Quinn acknowledged.

Meanwhile, the Panthers are dealing with some injuries of their own. Linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, who missed the last game with a shoulder injury, is listed as day-to-day. Canales expressed the team's desire to have him back on the field, stating, "We'll take whatever percentage of (Clowney) we can get because he is a valuable asset in all aspects of our game."

On Tuesday, the Panthers signed linebacker Jacoby Windmon from the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad.

In their all-time series, the Commanders hold a 10-7 record against the Panthers, with a 6-3 record as the home team.

PREDICTION

Carolina Panthers

21

30

Washington Commanders