Washington Commanders vs Carolina Panthers Picks and Predictions October 20th 2024

Commanders vs Panthers October 20th 2024

The Panthers and Commanders will face off on Sunday, October 20th at 4:05 ET on CBS. This week seven NFC matchup is being played at Northwest Stadium in Landover, MD. The Commanders are the heavy favorite with a money line of -370 and are favored by -7.5 on the point spread. The over/under line is set at 52 points.

Carolina vs. Washington Key Information

Heading into week 7, the Panthers are looking to snap a three-game losing streak, which includes a 38-20 home loss to the Falcons in week 6. This dropped Carolina to 1-5 on the season, putting them 30th in our power rankings and leaving them with just a 0.2% chance of making the playoffs. Their only win came in week 3, when they beat the Raiders 36-22, but they couldn’t build on that, losing to the Bears and Bengals in weeks 4 and 5.

Against the spread, the Panthers are 1-5, with their only win coming against the Raiders. They’ve been underdogs in all of their games so far. In terms of O/U, they have an over record of 5-1, with the over hitting in four straight games. Their matchups have averaged a combined 51 points per game, with an average line of 42.1.

Heading into week 7, the Panthers rank 26th in our offensive power rankings. They are 25th in the NFL in both points per game (17.2) and yards per game (298.5). Despite being 8th in passing attempts per game (34.7), they are 23rd in passing yards, averaging 187.2 per game. On the ground, they rank 23rd in rushing attempts and 22nd in rushing yards, with 111.3 per game. Carolina ranks 24th in 3rd-down conversion rate (31%) but is 7th in the league in red zone conversion percentage.

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In week 6, Andy Dalton threw for 221 yards (26/38) with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Chuba Hubbard led the rushing attack with 92 yards on 18 carries, while Diontae Johnson had 6 catches for 78 yards and a touchdown. Carolina scored 20 points, with 10 coming in the 2nd quarter, but they were shut out in the 4th quarter. They converted 5 of 11 3rd-down attempts and scored on 2 of 3 red zone trips.

In their 38-20 loss to the Falcons, the Panthers’ defense allowed 423 total yards and 198 rushing yards on 38 attempts. They struggled to generate pressure, as they didn’t record any sacks and lost the tackles for loss battle by -4. Despite this, they did a decent job against the pass, allowing just 225 yards through the air and holding the Falcons to 63.3% completions.

On third downs, the Panthers allowed the Falcons to convert 50% of their chances.

Heading into week 7, the Commanders sit atop the NFC East with a 4-2 record. After winning three straight, including a 21-point victory over the Browns in week 5, Washington couldn’t keep the streak going, falling 30-23 to the Ravens in week 6. Despite the loss, they remain in first place in the division and have a 64.2% chance of making the playoffs, according to our projections.

Washington ranks 12th in our NFL power rankings and has a +5.5 scoring margin this season. They are 4-1-1 against the spread and have an O/U record of 5-1, with the over hitting in four straight games.

Heading into week 7, the Commanders are 2nd in the NFL in points per game (29.7) and rank 5th in yards per game (378). They’ve leaned on the run game, averaging 31 rushing attempts per game (6th) and 157.3 rushing yards per game (5th). On 3rd down, they’ve been excellent, converting 48.6% of their attempts, which ranks 2nd in the league. However, they’ve struggled in the red zone, sitting 28th in conversion percentage despite ranking 2nd in red zone attempts.

In week 6, Jayden Daniels threw for 269 yards and 2 touchdowns, completing 24 of 35 passes without an interception. Zach Ertz led the team in receiving with 68 yards on 4 catches, while Daniels was also the leading rusher with 22 yards on 6 carries. Washington scored 10 points in the 4th quarter but fell short in their loss to the Ravens.

In their most recent game, the Washington Commanders’ defense allowed the Ravens to put up 484 yards of total offense, including 176 rushing yards on 37 attempts. Despite this, they did come up with one interception and two sacks. The Commanders also allowed the Ravens to convert on 60% of their third down attempts. In the passing game, Washington allowed 308 yards through the air, with the Ravens completing 76.9% of their passes. Washington lost the game 30-23.

For this week seven matchup between the Panthers and Commanders, we have the Panthers coming out on top by a score of 27-25. However, with the point spread sitting at +7.5 in favor of the Commanders, our pick vs. the spread is to take the Panthers to cover as road underdogs.

As for the over/under, with the line at 52 points, we are leaning towards taking the under, projecting a combined score of exactly 52 points.

Commanders Vying to ‘Sharpen’ Play vs. Lowly Panthers

Despite their solid 4-2 start to the 2024 NFL season, the Washington Commanders feel they have yet to reach their full potential. With an opportunity to improve, the Commanders will face the struggling Carolina Panthers on Sunday in Landover, Md.

“The focus is on us,” Washington head coach Dan Quinn emphasized. “We’ve got plenty to work on. We are absolutely going to go sharpen our game as strong as we can. We’ve got a lot to sharpen.”

Washington’s Jayden Daniels: A Promising Start

Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick, has been a revelation for the Commanders. Leading the league in completion percentage at an impressive 75.3%, Daniels has not only been precise in the passing game but also dynamic as a runner, racking up 322 rushing yards, second only to other quarterbacks in the league.

“We have an excellent quarterback here,” Quinn praised. “I love Jayden and what he brings to us.”

Daniels has accumulated six passing touchdowns and four rushing scores, displaying his dual-threat capabilities. His presence has invigorated Washington’s offense, and his connection with key offensive pieces will be pivotal moving forward.

Panthers’ Struggles Continue

The Panthers (1-5) enter the game with a three-game losing streak and remain the only team in the NFC with five losses. Carolina’s defense has struggled, particularly against rookie quarterbacks. Just last week, they were carved up by No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, who passed for 304 yards and two touchdowns in the Chicago Bears’ 36-10 rout of Carolina.

Now, they face the challenge of containing Daniels, another rookie quarterback on the rise.

“Jayden has been making plays, extending plays,” Panthers head coach Dave Canales said. “His game continues to grow.”

Despite Carolina’s defensive woes, they do have bright spots on offense. Running back Chuba Hubbard ranks third in the NFL with 485 rushing yards, and veteran quarterback Andy Dalton has taken over for Bryce Young, throwing for 896 yards, seven touchdowns, and four interceptions with a solid 71.4% completion rate.

Washington’s Rushing Game Boost

The Commanders could receive a significant boost with the expected return of running back Brian Robinson Jr., who missed last week’s game with a knee injury. Robinson’s physicality and ability to break tackles have been key to Washington’s offensive success.

“How he’s able to run the ball and break tackles,” Daniels said of Robinson, “it’s going to be helpful to have B-Rob back.”

The Commanders, looking for their first 5-2 start since 2018, saw their four-game winning streak snapped last week in a close 30-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The team is hungry to rebound and further solidify their standing in the NFC.

Panthers Seek to End Losing Streak

Carolina’s offense has shown flashes of potential, but inconsistency has plagued the team. The Panthers will aim to stay balanced on offense, with Canales reiterating the importance of sticking to their core identity.

“We want to stay balanced as long as possible,” Canales said. “We have to be really disciplined in our commitment to our core.”

However, the Panthers will be facing a Washington defense that has been depleted by injuries. Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen suffered a season-ending pectoral injury, and defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste was placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury. There are also questions about the availability of defensive end Dorance Armstrong (ribs), who did not practice on Wednesday.

To address these issues, Washington added defensive tackle Sheldon Day from the practice squad and signed free-agent defensive end Jalyn Holmes to bolster the defensive line.

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Key Injuries for Both Teams

For the Panthers, linebacker Jadeveon Clowney remains a day-to-day concern after missing last week’s game with a shoulder injury. Canales acknowledged Clowney’s importance to the team and said they will take whatever contribution they can get from him.

“We’ll take whatever percentage of [Clowney] that we can get, to get him out there because he certainly is a help in all phases,” Canales said.

Carolina also made a roster move, adding linebacker Jacoby Windmon from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad.

Commanders’ Recent Dominance Against Panthers

Washington holds a slight edge in the all-time series between these two teams, boasting a 10-7 record, including a 6-3 mark at home. With the Panthers’ continued struggles and Washington’s desire to “sharpen” their play, Sunday’s game represents a key opportunity for the Commanders to take another step forward in their season.

As both teams look to emerge victorious, the focus will be on Daniels continuing his stellar play and Washington finding consistency, while Carolina will seek to snap their losing streak and improve on both sides of the ball.