LANDOVER, Md. — Marcus Mariota’s first concern upon entering the game for the injured Jayden Daniels was the rookie quarterback’s health. However, once on the field, he focused on executing plays, leading the Washington Commanders to a decisive 40-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Mariota stepped in after Daniels sustained a rib injury and quickly made an impact, throwing two touchdown passes. Dante Fowler also contributed significantly, returning an interception of Andy Dalton for a 67-yard touchdown. “It takes a little bit to kind of get your feet going and all that, but, yeah, you’re just thinking about the player first and then from there you just go out there and try to execute,” said Mariota, who completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards, connecting with tight ends Zach Ertz and Ben Sinnott for touchdowns.
The health of Daniels cast a shadow over the win. His mother reassured fans on social media that “he’s fine,” but Coach Dan Quinn stated that he had no updates and indicated Daniels would undergo further testing on Monday.
Despite Daniels’ injury, the Commanders (5-2) performed well for most of the game. They had already established a lead, aided by Fowler’s pick-6 and Dalton’s earlier interception. Fowler, reflecting on his interception return, remarked, “It was like I was in a dream.”
The Commanders’ defense was a key factor, limiting the Panthers to just 180 total yards, stopping seven of ten third-down attempts, and recording two sacks of Dalton.
With Mariota at the helm, Washington amassed 421 yards against the Panthers (1-6), who have struggled defensively, giving up the most points by any team in the Super Bowl era over the first six games of a season. Carolina coach Dave Canales acknowledged the issues the team faced, particularly in giving up points on nearly every drive.
In addition to Mariota’s performance, Brian Robinson Jr. scored a touchdown in his return from injury. The 27-point lead at halftime was Washington’s largest since they were up 28-0 against Dallas on December 18, 2005.
For Carolina, Dalton finished with 11 of 16 passes for 93 yards, and Bryce Young entered late in the game, completing two passes for negative yards. Chuba Hubbard managed just 52 yards on 17 carries after having averaged over 100 yards in previous weeks. He did score a touchdown late in the game, long after the outcome had been decided.
“It got out of our hands quick,” Dalton acknowledged. “We have to look ourselves in the mirror and say, ‘Why do these games keep going like this?’”
Injury notes included Panthers running back Raheem Blackshear, who left the game with a shoulder injury, and tight end Tommy Tremble, who was inactive due to back issues. The Commanders also dealt with the loss of rookie left tackle Brandon Coleman, who suffered a concussion in the first half.
Looking ahead, the Panthers will face the Denver Broncos next Sunday, while the Commanders will host the Chicago Bears the same day.