Redskins top Panthers 29-21
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Washington Redskins have struggled all season to run the ball and score points.
But veteran running back Adrian Peterson believes the Redskins have finally found “the right recipe” with a two-pronged rushing attack, one they used to overpower the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Derrius Guice racked up 129 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, Peterson ran for 99 yards and a score and the Redskins made a late goal-line stand to secure a 29-21 victory over the Panthers for their second straight victory.
The Redskins piled up 248 yards rushing and scored a season high in points.
“Guice and I talked throughout the game,” Peterson said. “We have a signal if we need each other to come in. Especially if that guy’s rolling, we’ll let him spin.”
Guice, who had only 74 yards rushing and no touchdown in his entire NFL career coming in, averaged 12.9 yards per carry against a Carolina defense that came into the game ranked 27th in the league against the run.
“I’ve always had confidence,” said Guice, who tore the ACL in his left knee last year as a rookie. “I’ve just had bad luck, so I haven’t been able to show it.”
Peterson likes the shared approach, calling it “relaxing.”
“I want him to be successful,” Peterson said. “That’s what he needs. I’m always rooting him on. I’m in his corner, and we can do this together.”
The Panthers’ (5-7) fourth straight loss could put coach Ron Rivera’s job in jeopardy.
“I’m not worried about my future,” Rivera said after the game. “I’m worried about this football team. We have a game coming up on Sunday.”
The Redskins spotted the Panthers a 14-0 lead after quarterback Kyle Allen opened the game 8 of 8 passing for 106 yards with touchdown passes to wide receivers Curtis Samuel and D.J. Moore on Carolina’s first two possessions.
But what looked like a Carolina rout quickly turned.
The Redskins upped the pressure on Allen and the Panthers, forcing eight punts and an interception on the next nine possessions. Washington limited the Panthers to 65 yards on those nine drives and neutralized Christian McCaffrey, holding the NFL’s leader in yards from scrimmage to 102 total yards, well below his season average.
“They got us schematically early in the game,” said Redskins linebacker Jon Bostic. “We switched up some of our calls and played some things differently with leverage. Nothing complicated, but sometimes it’s just being in a better call.”
Allen broke the string when he scrambled for a 17-yard touchdown with 1:51 left to cut the lead to 29-21.
Then, after most of the Carolina fans had left the stadium, the Panthers executed a perfect onside kick with Jermaine Carter recovering near midfield to give Allen one more chance. The second-year QB moved the Panthers to the 1-yard line, but Washington stopped Carolina on four straight downs with Chris Odum sacking Allen after a 23-yard loss and Nate Orchard recovering the loose ball giving the Redskins their first win here since 1998.
Both Odum and Orchard were signed to the active roster earlier this week. “It’s about making a play when it matters,” said Allen, who has lost five of his last six starts after winning his first five.
