Washington Football Team vs. Panthers Week 16 preview, score prediction
By Ian Cummings
Washington Football Team offense vs. Panthers defense
With the prevailing situation at quarterback, it’s hard to dive into the matchups. Until Alex Smith gets healthy, Dwayne Haskins is the starter. That remains the case even after the Washington Football Team fined and stripped Haskins of his captaincy, in light of his COVID protocol violation.
It’s growing tiresome to see this cycle continue with Haskins. Haskins is no doubt still young, but his tendency to make suspect decisions is trending toward habit territory. He got complacent when he was made the starter earlier in the season, and at the first sign of redemption, he celebrated in a way that disrespected and put his teammates at risk.
In a sense, these experiences are valuable in theory, so that young players can learn from them. But one can’t help but wonder if the locker room’s trust in Haskins has eroded. Nevertheless, Haskins might get another chance to redeem himself. He’d best not take this one lightly. Of course, if Alex Smith can go — as he plans to — Haskins goes back to the bench. But there are no guarantees at this point.
If Smith can go, the Panthers’ defense offers some opportunity. They’re young across the board, and while they have a great deal of talent, they have yet to mesh consistently this season. The run defense has allowed lanes for backs, and the pass defense has been streaky. A smart passer like Smith might be able to make something happen.
One player to watch for Carolina is Brian Burns. Burns has developed into a star on the edge for the Panthers, but he injured his knee last week, and his status is up in the air, trending toward doubtful. If he can’t play, it’ll be a boost for Washington’s tackles, who won’t have to deal with his explosiveness and bend.
Jeremy Chinn is another name to keep an eye on; the hyper-athletic rookie has over 100 tackles this season, and his ability to fly around the field may spell trouble for Washington’s RAC-oriented offense. But if Antonio Gibson returns — he was doing limited work earlier this week — his size will present a better match for Chinn’s physicality.