Panthers-Washington live updates: Carolina beats former coach Ron Rivera in DC
Washington head coach Ron Rivera has been clear this week: Today’s game vs. the Panthers isn’t about revenge, it’s about getting his team into the playoffs.
Rivera coached Carolina from 2011-2019 until he was fired last season by team owner David Tepper.
Even if the game isn’t about revenge, Rivera is likely to get it when the two teams kick off at 4 p.m. on CBS. Washington Football Team is on the verge of clinching the NFC East; meanwhile, the Panthers (4-10) have lost three in a row and are trending toward a top-4 pick in the 2021 NFL draft.
We’ll have live updates of today’s game here throughout the evening and a full analysis of the game, along with commentary, afterward. There is a photo gallery of the game at the bottom of this page.
So you probably didn’t see this coming, right?
Heading into Sunday’s afternoon game, Washington needed to beat Carolina to clinch the NFC East title and win for the fifth time in six weeks. Carolina was trying to snap a three-game losing streak and forget about some stretches in the past month when it had played really poorly.
So what happened?
Carolina played like a playoff team and Washington, and especially quarterback Dwayne Haskins, looked like the team headed to the NFL’s version of the draft lottery.
Carolina forced four first half turnovers and ran away for a 20-13 win that probably did some damage to its draft prospects.
When the game began, Carolina had a shot at a top 3 pick. This win, as some fans noted on social media, could surely change that. But next week’s home game with New Orleans — as well as what other losing teams do in the final week of the regular-season — will ultimately determine all of that.
A loss would’ve left the Panthers at 4-11, tied for the third worst record in the league. The win left the 5-10 Panthers likely in the No. 7-10 range of the current draft board. Tankathon, which tracks the draft order, has Carolina picking at 9 right now.
The story Sunday was the Panthers defense, which forced four first half turnovers that the Panthers scored 13 points off on. Carolina led 20-3 at halftime and the defense remained strong in the second half.
▪ Washington pulled starter Dwayne Haskins (14-28, 154 yards, two interceptions) for Taylor Heinicke with about nine minutes to go, and Heinicke (12-19, 137 yards, one touchdown) nearly matched Haskins’ output -- although he was going after a Panthers defense playing soft coverages.
Washington ran for 107 yards on 19 carries.
▪ Carolina QB Teddy Bridgewater threw the ball downfield more than in recent weeks and finished with 197 yards passing and a touchdown. He completed 19-of-28 passes. Curtis Samuel ran seven times for 52 yards and caught five passes for 106 yards.
On defense, Tre Boston had six tackles and three assists and an intercpetion. Jeremy Chinn had five tackles and three assists. Brian Burns and Marquis Haynes had sacks.
JD MCKISSIC TOUCHDOWN, CAROLINA 20, WASHINGTON 13
1:50, Fourth Quarter: Taylor Heinicke led Washington on its second straight long drive. Unlike the first, he punctuated this one, when JD McKissic beat Jeremy Chinn, who stumbled. The 29-yard scoring pass got Washington to within one score.
Washington replaces QB Dwayne Haskins
With 9 minutes to play and down 14 points, Washington coach Ron Rivera has replaced starter Dwayne Haskins with former Carolina QB Taylor Heinicke.
Haskins was 14-for-28 for 154 yards and two interceptions. He also had a fumble. In the first half, Haskins was 6-of-15 for 36 yards and the two picks.
On his first drive, Heinicke led Washington down the field, but the drive stalled after a holding penalty took away a touchdown and a fourth and long pass was knocked down in the end zone by Panthers defensive back Donte Jackson.
DUSTIN HOPKINS FIELD GOAL: PANTHERS 20, WASHINGTON 6
4:01, Third Quarter: Washington got on the board with a 26-yard field goal after the Football Team finally got a big play from QB Dwayne Haskins.
On third down, Dwayne Haskins scrambled to his left, then back to his right and hit Cam Sims for a 50-yard pass to the Panthers 16. Carolina’s defense tightened after that.
Panthers RB Mike Davis, OL Trent Scott, Brian Burns injured in third quarter
With 14:41 left to play in the third quarter, Panthers starting running back Mike Davis went down after a 3-yard gain. Davis left the field and walked back to the Carolina sideline. He did not look 100 percent, but he returned a few plays after that.
▪ Two minutes later, offensive lineman Trent Scott, who was filling in for injured starter Russell Okung, walked off the field with an injury. He was replaced by 2014 third round pick Michael Schofield. Scott has a shoulder injury and is questionable to return.
▪ Just before Washington scored its field goal, Brian Burns appeared to injure his shoulder chasing Haskins on an incomplete pass. Burns later returned to the game.
HALFTIME, PANTHERS UP BIG, BUT FANS WORRY ABOUT DRAFT POSITION
Trying to snap a three-game losing streak, Carolina may have played its best half of football Sunday in Washington. Converting four turnovers into 13 points, Carolina led 20-3 at halftime.
But coming into game, Carolina had a chance for top three pick. A win Sunday would certainly change that projection, and several Panthers fans took to Twitter to complain about that.
DUSTIN HOPKINS FG, PANTHERS 20, WASHINGTON 3
1:20, Second Quarter: Washington’s Cam Sims dropped a pass that would’ve given it the ball in the red zone before Dustin Hopkins made a 48-yard attempt.
The Panthers were driving for more points after that, but Washington rookie Chase Young grabbed Teddy Bridgewater’s arm as he was passing and forced a wobbly pass that was intercepted with 12 seconds left.
ROBBY ANDERSON TOUCHDOWN, PANTHERS 20, WASHINGTON 0
3:06, Second Quarter: On third and 8 at the Washington 15, Teddy Bridgewater hit Robby Anderson running across the middle, right-to-left. Anderson ran into the end zone to give his team a big lead.
The big play? On third and 16, Teddy Bridgewater hit Curtis Samuel with a deep pass over the middle for 44 yards. Carolina got a first down at the Washington 17. At that point in the game, Samuel had 109 total yards.
MIKE DAVIS TOUCHDOWN: PANTHERS 13, WASHINGTON 0
8:33, Second Quarter: After another defensive stop, Carolina began moving the ball, driving nine plays, all runs, to arrive at the Washington 1. On fourth down, Mike Davis completed the 80-yard drive with a 1-yard run over the left side.
The big play on the drive was Curtis Samuel’s 45-yard wide right sweep. Samuel made a great cut on the sideline and broke a tackle late in the run before being tackled at the Washington 6.
BRANDON ZYLSTRA TOUCHDOWN, PANTHERS 6, WASHINGTON 0
1:42, First Quarter: Carolina took an early lead in a game when neither team was doing much offensively. Trying to field a punt at his 7, Washington’s Steven Sims Jr. lost control of it. The ball was batted towards the Washington end zone, where Panthers special teams star Brandon Zylstra recovered the ball. Joey Slye missed the extra point wide right, in the quarter Panthers coach Matt Rhule decided to try a fourth and 5 when Carolina was in range for a 52-yard field goal attempt.
It was Zylstra’s first career touchdown.
Panthers get an early break
After failing on fourth down, Washington was driving before Carolina forced a fumble as Washington QB Dwayne Haskins was trying to pass. Panthers linebacker Jermaine Carter Jr. scooped up the ball and returned it to the Panthers 47.
The play was reviewed for a potential incomplete pass, but the on-field ruling of a fumble was upheld. On the ensuing drive, the Panthers didn’t go far and punted.
Panthers lose chance for early points
After the Panthers’ defense got a 3-and-out on Washington’s first possession, the Panthers moved to the Washington 34. On fourth and 5, coach Matt Rhule didn’t try a 52-yard field goal from Joey Slye, known for his strong leg.
Instead quarterback Teddy Bridgewater went back to pass, could not find anyone and was pushed down by Washington defensive lineman Daron Payne. The Football Team got the ball back at its 43.
The pregame T.D.-McCaffrey reunion was everything
Before Sunday’s game, former teammates Christian McCaffrey and Thomas Davis shared a moment.
CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY IS INJURED AND WON’T PLAY VS. WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM
For the 12th time this season, Christian McCaffrey will miss the Panthers’ game this week. He’s sidelined yet again as he recovers from a quad/thigh injury he tweaked two weeks ago during practice.
McCaffrey has missed six games this season with a high-ankle sprain, three with an injury to his AC joint and three now with this quad ailment.
On a positive note for Carolina, Brian Burns will play today.
WHAT CHANNEL IS THE PANTHERS-WASHINGTON NFL GAME ON AND HOW DO I STREAM IT?
Today’s 4 p.m. kickoff between the Washington Football Team and Panthers at FedEx Field outside of D.C. will be broadcast on CBS. You can stream the game on CBS.com by logging in through your cable or satellite provider or with a CBS All-Access subscription. It’s also available on YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV with a valid subscription.
In Charlotte, the game will be broadcast locally on WBTV.
If you are unable to view the game, we will provide live updates and video and photo highlights on this page.
This story was originally published December 27, 2020 at 3:15 PM with the headline "Panthers-Washington live updates: Carolina beats former coach Ron Rivera in DC."