5 winners (and 2 losers) from Commanders' triumph vs. Panthers in Week 7
By Dean Jones
Winner No. 3
Marcus Mariota - Commanders QB
Marcus Mariota probably wasn't expecting to see the field unless it was for garbage time if the Washington Commanders were up big late in the contest. As it turned out, the veteran backup was thrown into the fire much sooner than anticipated against the Carolina Panthers.
The Commanders lost Jayden Daniels after the opening drive due to a rib injury. Mariota got the starting gig under center and recovered from some early jitters to put together a polished performance.
Washington eased Mariota into the game, relying heavily on the run. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury deserves enormous praise for another play-calling masterclass, which brought the former Oregon star's confidence along gradually to ensure the Commanders emerged from the contest with a comfortable triumph.
Mariota completed 78.26 percent of his passes for 205 passing yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. His QBR of 64.7 and 132.8 passer rating were a testament to how well he performed in a high-pressure situation. Much more will be needed if the Commanders need him versus the Chicago Bears in Week 8, so it'll be interesting to see how things unfold in the coming days.
Winner No. 4
Mike Sainristil - Commanders CB
There were concerns about the secondary heading into Week 7. They had no answers for the Baltimore Ravens as Joe Whitt Jr. was forced to stack the box in pursuit of restricting Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. This was slightly easier, but the Panthers still had some dangerous weapons that could do damage if improvements didn't arrive.
The secondary responded to the challenge accordingly. They restricted veteran signal-caller Andy Dalton to 93 passing yards from just 11 completions. Mike Sainristil was at the forefront, bringing his unique blend of physicality, aggressiveness, and football IQ throughout the one-sided affair.
This was probably Sainristil's best game as a pro so far. He looked assured in coverage despite being matched up against Pro Bowl wideout Diontae Johnson frequently. He wrapped up instantly en route to seven tackles and always seemed to be around the action.
Washington's front office was convinced Sainristil had the skill set and elite-level mentality to become a franchise cornerstone piece. There will be rough and smooth moments during his rookie transition, but this was a huge step in the right direction.