Carolina Panthers vs Washington Commanders Match Player Stats (Oct 20, 2024)

Washington crushed Carolina 40-7 at Northwest Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024, in a game decided by halftime. Marcus Mariota replaced injured rookie Jayden Daniels and completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. Brian Robinson Jr. ran for 71 yards and a score while Andy Dalton threw two first-quarter interceptions. Dante Fowler Jr. intercepted a screen pass three minutes into the game and returned it 67 yards for a touchdown. The Commanders controlled possession 35:05 to 24:55 while gaining 421 total yards compared to Carolina’s 180.

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Game Overview

Washington won every major statistical category. The Commanders controlled possession, forced two turnovers while committing none, and gained 241 more yards than Carolina. Washington held the ball for 10 minutes longer, wearing down an undermanned Panthers defense.

Quarterback Performance

Carolina Passing Stats

Dalton’s afternoon collapsed on the opening drive when he tried a screen pass to Miles Sanders that Fowler read perfectly. The linebacker jumped the route at the line, caught it at the Washington 33, and raced untouched down the left sideline. Seven points, just like that. Carolina’s third possession ended with another Dalton pick, this one sailing directly to Emmanuel Forbes at the Washington 46.

“It got out of our hands quick,” Dalton told reporters after the game. “We have to look ourselves in the mirror and say, ‘Why do these games keep going like this?’ I think that’s the biggest thing.”

Young came in during garbage time and completed both passes for negative yardage. The 2023 first overall pick finished with minus-four yards on his two completions, extending his season-long struggles.

Washington Passing Stats

Mariota performed well when needed, completing 78.3% of his throws with a 132.8 passer rating. PFF graded him over 85.0 with two big-time throws and zero turnover-worthy plays. He spread the ball to eight receivers while mixing in 11 designed runs that kept Carolina’s defense guessing.

“You know what, I’m really proud of Marcus,” head coach Dan Quinn said after the game. “So, if your moment gets called, then you’re ready to deliver for the team and I think that’s a really powerful thing and he was able to do that tonight.”

Mariota’s best work came late in the first half. Trailing 20-7 with 2:22 before intermission, he took over at the Washington 8-yard line and marched 92 yards in just over two minutes. He completed five of six passes for 82 yards, capping it with a 12-yard strike to Zach Ertz with 10 seconds left. That 27-0 halftime cushion represented Washington’s biggest lead at the break since December 18, 2005, when they led Dallas 28-0.

Ground Game Breakdown

Washington’s passing game was one part of a balanced offense. The Commanders rushed for 214 yards on 37 carries against Carolina’s depleted defensive front.

Carolina Rushing Stats

Hubbard had averaged over 100 rushing yards per game across his previous four contests, but that production ended abruptly. He gained just 52 yards on 17 carries against Washington’s aggressive front. Sanders ripped off a 26-yard burst for Carolina’s lone explosive play, but the Panthers never found any rhythm in the run game.

Washington Rushing Stats

Robinson came back from a knee injury that cost him the previous week and scored his sixth touchdown of the season, a new career high. He’s found the end zone in four straight games played, piling up five touchdowns during that stretch.

Daniels’ 46-yard scramble on the opening drive was the longest rush by a Washington quarterback since 2012, according to official team statistics. The rookie took off down the right sideline, making multiple defenders miss before being tackled deep in Carolina territory. He completed two more passes on that drive before heading to the sideline with what later turned out to be a rib injury.

Receiving Leaders

Washington spread the ball around to multiple targets while Carolina struggled to get anyone going consistently.

Carolina Receiving Stats

Rookie tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders posted career highs with six catches on six targets for 61 yards. His 29-yard grab on Carolina’s lone touchdown drive in the fourth quarter marked his career long. Johnson got bracketed all afternoon by Washington’s secondary and finished with just one catch despite three targets. The veteran hauled in 8 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown in Carolina’s Week 3 win over Las Vegas, but Washington made sure he wouldn’t beat them this time.

Washington Receiving Stats

McLaurin caught all six targets for 98 yards, finishing two yards shy of his second 100-yard game this season. He was Mariota’s go-to target whenever Washington needed a first down. Ertz and rookie Ben Sinnott both found the end zone, becoming the first Washington tight end duo to score in the same game since Week 10 of 2013.

“At the end of the day, we won handily and I think the defense did an unbelievable job,” McLaurin told reporters afterward.

Defensive Standouts

Washington’s defense set the tone with Fowler’s pick-six and never backed off. Carolina’s undermanned unit did what it could against a balanced attack.

Carolina Defense Leaders

Smith-Wade led with eight tackles in his most productive game this season. Harris dropped Mariota for Carolina’s only sack, a four-yard loss in the second quarter. But here’s the reality: the Panthers entered this NFL Week 7 matchup without six of their seven projected starting front-seven defenders. Six of seven starters were out. Derrick Brown and Shaq Thompson remained on season-ending injured reserve, while A’Shawn Robinson, Jadeveon Clowney, and Josey Jewell sat out with shorter-term injuries. Only nose tackle Shy Tuttle remained from the intended starting group.

Washington Defense Leaders

Fowler scored on his first career interception, added a sack, stuffed Hubbard on a crucial fourth-down play, defended a pass, and hit the quarterback. He became the first Washington player since Dan Wilkinson in 1999 to record a pick-six, sack, and tackle for loss in the same game.

“Man, that was so cool,” Fowler said about his 67-yard touchdown return. “That was my first interception. Just be able to return it for a touchdown, man, that was like I was in a dream.”

Luvu sacked Dalton for his fourth takedown of the season on third-and-five in the second quarter, forcing a punt. Sainristil tied for the team lead with seven tackles while breaking up a pass and recording a tackle for loss.

Special Teams Performance

Kicking Stats

Seibert was automatic, drilling kicks from 49, 42, 31, and 29 yards while converting all four extra points. His 16 points brought his season total to 76 through just six games, breaking Mark Moseley’s franchise record for most points by a Washington player through Week 7. Seibert wasn’t even on the roster for Week 1, making his record-setting pace even more impressive. His consistency from distance has been a weapon, with three of his four field goals Sunday coming from 31 yards or beyond.

Punting and Returns

Washington’s offensive efficiency meant Way kicked just once all afternoon. The Commanders scored on eight of nine possessions, with only end-of-half kneel-downs preventing more points. Hekker boomed a 62-yard punt in the second quarter, but field position battles didn’t matter when Carolina’s offense couldn’t sustain drives. Raheem Blackshear averaged 22.8 yards on five kickoff returns before leaving with a shoulder injury midway through the third quarter.

Three Plays That Decided the Game

Three specific moments turned this game into a rout.

1. Fowler’s Pick-Six (First Quarter, 11:14)

Third-and-nine from the Washington 25. Dalton tried dumping off a screen to Miles Sanders, but Fowler read it perfectly. He stepped in front of Sanders at the line and snatched the ball at the 33, then shook off Dalton’s arm tackle. He raced down the left sideline for a 67-yard touchdown. Washington led 7-0 three minutes into the game. That pick-six deflated Carolina’s opening drive, which had gained three first downs and reached Washington territory.

2. Fourth-Down Stop (Second Quarter, 7:34)

Down 20-7 late in the second quarter, Carolina faced fourth-and-one at their own 40-yard line. Dave Canales decided to go for it. Dalton handed to Hubbard up the middle, but Fowler shot through untouched and wrapped him up for a two-yard loss. Washington took over at the Carolina 38, and Seibert kicked a 49-yard field goal three plays later to make it 23-7.

3. Two-Minute Drill Touchdown (Second Quarter, 2:22)

Leading 20-7 with 2:22 before halftime, Washington took over at its own 8-yard line. Mariota went to work: Ertz (7 yards), Robinson (4 yards), McLaurin (18 yards), McLaurin again (15 yards), Dyami Brown (23 yards). Ninety-two yards in just over two minutes. He capped it with a 12-yard strike to Ertz with 10 seconds left. The 27-0 halftime lead represented Washington’s biggest cushion at the break since 2005. Carolina’s locker room at halftime must have been a morgue.

Impact of Carolina’s Depleted Defense

How do you win when six of your seven starting defenders up front are unavailable? You don’t. That’s the harsh reality Carolina faced Sunday.

Defensive ends Derrick Brown and A’Shawn Robinson, outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum, and inside linebackers Shaq Thompson and Josey Jewell were all out. Only nose tackle Shy Tuttle remained from the projected starting front seven. That’s not a minor injury report. That’s a personnel catastrophe.

The numbers reflect it. Washington averaged 5.8 yards per carry, converted 50% of third downs, and controlled possession by more than 10 minutes. The depleted defense generated just one sack and struggled to stop both run and pass consistently. Backup linebackers Chandler Wooten and Trevin Wallace led the team with six and seven tackles, but they couldn’t match up against Washington’s diverse attack.

The Panthers’ official recap noted their 43 offensive plays tied the second-fewest in franchise history since 1995. Limited possessions plus defensive breakdowns equals blowout losses.

Notable Statistical Achievements

Sinnott caught his first NFL touchdown on a three-yard pass from Mariota in the third quarter. The rookie tight end secured the ball in traffic for the score that made it 34-0. He and Ertz became the first Washington tight end duo to both score in the same game since Week 10 of 2013.

Robinson’s eight-yard touchdown run in the second quarter marked his sixth of the season through Week 7. He scored five touchdowns in his entire rookie season last year, so he’s already topped that with 10 games left.

Daniels’ 46-yard scramble on the opening drive was the longest rush by a Washington quarterback in 12 years, snapping a drought back to 2012.

Historical Context and Broader Implications

Washington improved to 5-2 with their third straight home win. The Commanders hadn’t started 5-2 since 2018 and hadn’t won three consecutive home games to open a season since 2005. They also moved to 3-1 against NFC opponents, their best conference start since 2018.

Carolina dropped to 1-6 after their second blowout loss in seven weeks. The 33-point margin tied as the eighth-worst defeat in franchise history. They’d lost by 37 to New Orleans in the opener, giving them two of their worst beatings ever in the first seven games of a season.

Comparing this to Carolina’s Week 3 victory over Las Vegas (36-22 on September 22), when Dalton threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns, shows how quickly things changed in just four weeks. Washington’s balanced approach echoed their Week 3 performance against Cincinnati (38-33 on September 23), when Daniels completed 91.3% of his passes in a Monday night shootout.

Breaking Down the Box Score

Washington’s 421 total yards more than doubled Carolina’s 180. The turnover margin (2-0) and possession advantage (10+ minutes) created a snowball effect Carolina couldn’t stop. Pro Football Reference’s complete game data confirms Washington won every major category except penalties.

Mariota’s 132.8 passer rating wasn’t the result of forcing throws. He didn’t force throws into coverage, protected the ball, and kept drives moving with arm and legs. His 11 rushing attempts for 34 yards kept Carolina’s defense honest and opened passing lanes.

Carolina averaged 4.9 yards per pass attempt and 3.1 yards per carry from Hubbard. Limited to 43 plays, they never established rhythm or sustained drives. Their longest possession lasted 4:55 in the fourth quarter with the game already decided.

Washington converted 50% of third downs while holding Carolina to 30%. That 20-percentage-point gap meant Washington sustained drives while Carolina went three-and-out repeatedly. The Commanders forced seven punts and scored on eight of nine possessions (excluding kneeldowns).

Washington’s 5-2 start positions them as a playoff contender while Carolina’s injury-depleted roster continues searching for answers at 1-6.