The Carolina Panthers kick off the 2022 preseason on the road as they travel to Washington for a Week 1 matchup with the Commanders. This will be the sixth time the two teams have met in the preaseason. Carolina has won four straight preseason matchups against Washington, and holds a 4-1 record all-time.
Carolina enters this season led by third-year head coach Matt Rhule. The Panthers finished the 2021 season with a 5-12 record, finishing fourth in the NFC South. Half of the Panthers 12 losses were decided by one score or less. Washington’s head coach Ron Rivera is in his third season in Washington. Prior to Washington, Rivera spent the previous nine seasons as the Panthers’ head coach. Last season, the Commanders posted a 7-10 record, finishing third in the NFC East.
The Numbers
About Carolina
- Baker Mayfield was traded to Carolina after four seasons with the Cleveland Browns (2018-21). Last year, he started 13 games, throwing for 3,010 yards and 17 touchdown passes.
- WR DJ Moore totaled a team-high 1,157 receiving yards this year, the 11th most in the NFL and 6th most in the NFC. Moore recorded 50+ receiving yards in 12 games in 2021. His 93 receptions are a new career-best for a single season and ranked 12th league-wide. Moore’s team-high and careerhigh 163 targets ranked 6th most in the NFL.
- Despite a shortened 2021 season due to injury, RB Christian McCaffrey racked up 100+ yards from scrimmage in 5-of-7 games played this year.
- WR Robby Anderson finished the 2021 season with 53 receptions for 519 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Over the final eight games of the season, Anderson gathered over half of his receptions of the season (34) for 313 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
- Carolina’s defense is the only team in the NFL that did not allow a touchdown on the opponents’ first drive of any game in 2021. The Panthers allowed just 9 points by opposing teams on opening drives (3 FGs, 1 takeaway, 13 punts).
- Burns has played in 48 career games. He ranks 2nd in franchise history in sacks through a player’s first 48 games, only trailing Julius Peppers (30.0 sacks, 2002-05) with 25.5 sacks.
About Washington
- QB Carson Wentz is 4,626 passing yards away from 25,000 and 10 passing touchdowns away from 150 in his career. Wentz would become the ninth player in NFL history to ever have 25,000 passing yards and 150 passing touchdowns in seven or fewer seasons. Wentz is one rushing touchdown away from 10 in his career.
- WR Terry McLaurin is looking to reach the 1,000 receiving yard plateau for the third-consecutive season. McLaurin would become the first Washington player to record 1,000 receiving yards in three-straight seasons since Henry Ellard did so in three straight from 1994-96.
- RB Antonio Gibson is looking to record 1,000 rushing yards for the second-straight season, he would be the first Washington running back to record back-to-back seasons with 1,000 rushing yards since Alfred Morris did so in three-straight seasons from 2012-14.
Connections
- Panthers WR DJ Moore played his collegiate years at the University of Maryland from 2015-17.
- Panthers TE Ian Thomas attended Digital Harbor HS and is a native of Baltimore, MD.
- Washington WR Dynami Brown played collegiately at North Carolina from 2018-2020. Brown is a native of Charlotte, NC.
- Washington LB Cole Holcomb played his collegiate years at North Carolina from 2015-2018.
- Washington DE James Smith-Williams is a native of Raliegh, NC. He played his collegiate years at NC State from 2015-2019.
- Washington WR Kelvin Harmon played at NC State from 2016-2018.
Panthers vs Commanders
All-Time Series: 16 total matchups | Washington leads the series 10-75
Last Regular Season Game: 11/21/21 | Washington 27 vs Carolina 21
Preseason Series: 5 total matchups | Carolina leads the series 4-1
Last Preseason Game: 08/23/08 | Carolina 47 vs Washington 3
How to Watch
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET Queen City News: Taylor Zarzour, Steve Smith Sr., Kristen Balboni
Live Stream: Panthers.com
Radio: WRFX 99.7FM in Charlotte market; On The Call: Anish Shroff, Kurt Coleman, Jim Szoke, Kevin Donnalley
Per Release