The Washington Commanders were heavily favored to get their campaign back on track at home to the Carolina Panthers. It was a mission they accomplished with minimal fuss on a day of nostalgia and celebration at Northwest Stadium.
Legendary cornerback Darrell Green had his No. 28 retired at long last. The Commanders honored his legacy with another ruthlessly efficient display versus one of the league's bottom feeders. Carolina is under-strength and a bad football team devoid of confidence, but the way Washington is disposing of inferior opposition is immensely encouraging.
There was one concern centered on rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels' rib injury. Aside from that, there weren't many holes to pick. Something that head coach Dan Quinn will be looking to build upon next weekend with another home contest against the Chicago Bears.
That's for the not-too-distant future. For now, here are five winners and two losers from Washington's convincing triumph over the Panthers in Week 7.
Winners and losers from Commanders' triumph in Week 7
Winner No. 1
Commanders rushing attack
Getting Brian Robinson Jr. back into the lineup was a major boost for the Washington Commanders. Kliff Kingsbury relied on the run a little more once Jayden Daniels went to the sidelines, which was the right call looking at the current state of Carolina's defensive front seven.
Daniels got the ball rolling with a 46-yard run right out of the gate. Once the signal-caller went out, Washington's committee approach in the backfield dictated proceedings and had their way with the Panthers behind another exceptional effort from the offensive line.
The Commanders gashed the Panthers for 214 yards on the ground at 5.8 yards per carry. Robinson found his way into the end zone during his 17 touches. Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols also contributed, which is a formula Kingsbury should hang his hat on if the No. 2 pick out of LSU cannot suit up next weekend.
Washington found the right blend in the running back room this offseason. Everything is going according to plan so far, but some adjustments are needed if Daniels' rib injury forces him to miss time.
Loser No. 1
Luke McCaffrey - Commanders WR
Fans are still waiting for Luke McCaffrey's breakout game. The Washington Commanders have a lot of mouths to feed offensively. It's clear the No. 100 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft is pretty far down the pecking order for targets despite getting plenty of playing time.
This was the case once again in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers. McCaffrey ran some sharp routes once again and assisted from a blocking capacity. Unfortunately for the Rice product, he didn't get a single target from veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota.
Perhaps this was a chemistry issue. Mariota missed a lot of training camp, so the timing with McCaffrey was probably not where it needed to be. If the signal-caller is forced to start next weekend versus the Chicago Bears, this needs to be rectified as a matter of urgency.
McCaffrey is going to be just fine. This was always going to be a steep learning curve for the player, especially considering he got just two years at the wide receiver spot in college. Expect his targets to increase over the second half of 2024, because he's getting open consistently.
Winner No. 2
Dante Fowler Jr. - Commanders OLB
The Commanders needed others to step up and become impactful without defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and edge rusher Dorance Armstrong Jr. Both players were key contributors throughout Washington's remarkable start. Many thought their absence would lead to some serious defensive issues versus a Panthers offense that can generate yards if given enough space.
That didn't happen thanks in no small part to an improved defensive effort overall. Dante Fowler Jr. was a constant menace coming off the edge. He also got things off to the best possible start with a pick-six on the opening drive that shook Northwest Stadium to its foundations.
This was the confidence boost Fowler needed. He also helped himself to a sack, another pass breakup, and a tackle for loss. The free-agent signing has the complete trust of head coach Dan Quinn. Looking at his performances over the last three weeks, it's not hard to see why.
Generating pressure is something the Commanders failed to accomplish after trading Montez Sweat and Chase Young before the 2023 deadline. Things have progressed on this front in recent weeks. Fowler's emergence is a big reason why.
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.
Loser No. 2
Commanders injury worries
It wasn't all good news for the Washington Commanders despite securing a dominant victory on home soil. Things looked pretty bleak early on when rookie sensation Jayden Daniels got hurt on the opening drive, leading him into the locker room for X-rays on a rib issue that filled Northwest Stadium with dread.
Daniels was eventually ruled out. The Commanders didn't need him against a woeful team like the Carolina Panthers. Putting him in harm's way wouldn't have been smart, but head coach Dan Quinn should have more information on the problem and potential recovery timeline on Monday.
That wasn't all. The Commanders also lost rookie third-round offensive tackle Brandon Coleman. He suffered a concussion during the opening exchanges, so his status for Week 8 versus the Chicago Bears is also in significant doubt.
Coleman and Daniels are an integral part of Washington's long-term plans. If the Commanders are forced to be without the first-year duo for a considerable period, it'll have a detrimental impact on their surprising NFC East title hopes.
Fingers crossed for good news this week.
Winner No. 5
Terry McLaurin - Commanders WR
It's hard to keep finding new superlatives for Terry McLaurin. The Commanders' wide receiver has been on a tear to start the campaign after an indifferent start. Even when rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels went down on the opening drive, it failed to restrict the offense versus one of the league's historically bad defenses.
McLaurin's got previous experience when it comes to quarterback changes in Washington. He's played with more than a dozen starting signal-callers since arriving as a third-round pick out of Ohio State. He put this to good use en route to becoming Marcus Mariota's most trusted target.
The Pro Bowl pass-catcher had his way with the Panthers, showcasing his outstanding route-running, assured hands, and the ability to get open off-structure. McLaurin brought in all six of his targets for 98 receiving yards, which was nothing short of sensational in tricky circumstances.
If Daniels is forced to miss time, Mariota will depend heavily on McLaurin until the No. 2 pick is ready to return. Next weekend's matchup versus Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson will be critical, but the wideout finds himself in tremendous form heading into the mouthwatering clash.