Carolina Favored to Get On the Board Against Washington

NFL News - October 5th, 2009 - Written by John

We are going to find out a lot about the Washington Redskins and the Carolina Panthers when they meet this week. Not in the New England-Baltimore kind of way, but in a novel sense none-the-less. Instead of learning who is on top of the NFL, we will learn who is not at the bottom.

Both have had their claim to that stigma. The Redskins became the first team to lose to Detroit in nearly three years, while the Panthers have undeniably looked awful in their 0-3 start. Quarterback Jake Delhomme has been hammered in the media after throwing a pick in each game, and has drawn the ire of teammates like Steve Smith. Smith is one of the league's elite receivers on most accounts, but has failed to reach the end zone this season. In fact, only one receiver on the team has a touchdown catch and that's tight end Dante Rosario.

In a week of projected blowouts, this game is getting a narrow line, with a 3 1/2-point edge going to Carolina because they are at home according to BetUS. Washington has lost both of it's two road games this year, and five of it's last six. Also benefiting the Panthers is the fact they have had time to regroup on a merciful bye week.

Despite it's recent struggles, Carolina still was the second-best team in the NFC last year and was undefeated at home. They still have the potential to be at the top of the league in rushing with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart in the backfield and, given a consistent performance by Delhomme, could be trouble for the majority of the NFL. Both backs have averaged more than four yards a carry this year and have 143 total yards receiving.

The problem has been their defense. Ravaged by injuries up front, head coach John Fox has been forced to go with second and third options. It has led to a 30th-ranked scoring defense that allows nearly 30 points a game and has only four turnovers. It's somewhat surprising given that the defense seventh in the league in yards allowed, indicating opponents are needing very few yards to score. That falls on the quarterback, which has turned the ball over seven times.

The Redskins have turned the ball over far too much as well. Jason Campbell was picked off three times by Tampa Bay's Aqib Talib in a win last week, and needed late-inning heroics to win. DeAngelo Hall picked off Josh Johnson to spark three straight scoring drives to flip a 10-0 deficit into a 16-13 win. It was a brief euphoria for a team that has been engulfed in turmoil. Their only two wins were against the winless Bucs and Rams and impatient fans have asked for a change at quarterback.

The teams have only met twice since 2002, splitting the series with a home win apiece.

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