WASHINGTON — Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota led the Washington Commanders to a blowout 40-7 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Mariota stepped in for rookie Jadyn Daniels, who suffered a rib injury in the first quarter. Mariota completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
The Panthers (1-6) also turned to their backup quarterback Bryce Young while the team was down by several scores. Young completed two passes for negative four yards -- you're reading that correctly. Andy Dalton started for the Panthers and had just 93 yards passing and two interceptions.
Washington (5-2) outgained Carolina 421-180. The Commanders picked up 26 first downs compared to just 10 for the Panthers.
The 33-point loss is tied for the eighth worst in Panthers history. The fourth-worst loss in franchise history happened in Week 2 against the Saints.
"I'm proud of our guys... but it's gotta show up on game day," Panthers head coach Dave Canales said after the game. "We can have a great week of practice but the carryover and the mentality needs to be consistent for four quarters."
An interception killed Carolina's opening drive. The Panthers reached Washington's 25-yard line when Dalton threw a pass that was intercepted by linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. and returned 67 yards for a Commanders touchdown.
The Panthers did not have another first down until midway through the second quarter by which point the Commanders were leading 17-0.
Mariota found tight end Zach Ertz for a 12-yard touchdown pass in the closing seconds of the first half to give Washington a 27-0 halftime lead.
After another Mariota touchdown pass and a Washington field goal, the Panthers finally found the scoreboard with a 4-yard Chuba Hubbard rushing touchdown. That made the score 37-7.
Young saw some action on the next Panthers drive. He hit tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders for a short gain before completing a pass to running back Miles Sanders that lost six yards. Young's negative four yards in the loss is the 10th-worst negative yard total for a quarterback with multiple completions in a game in NFL history.
Canales said the team is committed to sticking with Dalton even with the string of poor performances.
The Panthers face the Broncos (4-3) next week on the road.