NFL action is set to take place on 8/13/22 and it will feature Carolina Panthers at Washington Commanders. The game is set to take place at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. The game starts at 1:00 PM EST and should be televised locally.
Carolina is looking to build upon some of the success from last season. The Panthers last year ended up finishing at a record of 5-12 on the year. However, at the divisional level the Panthers struggled at times with a record of 2-4. The Panthers are being led by 3rd year head coach Matt Rhule.
Panthers Offense
Carolina is coming here with a lot of pressure on Sam Darnold this year. Darnold was around last year and went 243/406 for 2,527 yards with 9 touchdowns and 13 picks. However, Cam Newton is out of the picture this year for the Panthers. Carolina is bringing back the top two rushers from last year in Chuba Hubbard and Christian McCaffrey. Last year, Hubbard carried the ball 172 times for 612 yards and 5 touchdowns. McCaffrey was oft injured and only carried the ball 99 times for 442 yards and a touchdown. The offense is returning at total of 9 starters on the season and the key loss comes from center Matt Paradis leaving.
Panthers Defense
The defense for Carolina was playing amazing last year with only 306 yards per game allowed, with 192 yards in the air and 114 yards per game on the ground. The Panthers allowed only 23.8 points per game, but did end up with only 9 picks and picked up 39 sacks. A key loss for the Carolina defense is the loss of Haason Reddick who had a double digit sack total last year and started in 16 games.
Washington now has a name for the football team and that is the Commanders. The Commanders finished the season last year at a 7-10 record on the year. When playing the NFC East, though, the Commanders ended up with a 2-4 record on the year.
Commanders Offense
The Washington Commanders are looking to another quarterback to guide the team. Taylor Heinicke is the backup and last year was the starter where he went 321/494 for 3,419 yards and 20 touchdowns with 15 picks. However, the Commanders are bringing in Carson Wentz this year to guide the team. The Washington team is bringing back Antonio Gibson who carried the ball 258 times for 1,037 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Commanders Defense
Defensively the Commanders were one of the better defenses in the league giving up only 359 yards per game, but allowed 255 yards in the air and 104 yards per game on the ground. The Bears did give up 25.5 points per game and only managed to get 11 picks with 38 sacks. Washington is bringing back a total of 10 starters from the weak defensive unit last year, but did lose Landon Collins who was one of the only leaders in the defensive secondary last year.
Carolina Panthers at Washington Commanders Odds: Panthers +2.5, Commanders -2.5
Over/Under Odds: 37
Panthers at Commanders Pick: Washington Commanders -2.5, Under 37
Odds from Betonline.ag
Washington is coming in as a favorite which is a little odd to say. However, I have to say that with the addition of Wentz and balanced with Gibson in the rushing attack it will be easy to see quite an improvement on the offensive side of the ball. With the defense for Washington bringing back 10 starters off of the roster from last year and the only departure coming from Collins, a leader, but one who can be replaced, it is hard to see the Washington defense being as bad as last season. With that being the case and the fact that Carolina is unsettled quite a bit on the offensive side of the ball I see the Commanders winning the game and covering, but I do not see either offense being gelled enough to threaten the total.
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