The defense missed Dontari Poe

Our top key to the game was the Panthers defense being able to contain Adrian Peterson. That’s easier said than done, of course – especially when you’re missing your best run-stuffing tackles. Without Dontari Poe to plug things up in the middle, Washington went wild running the ball. Vernon Butler and Gerald McCoy were also banged up at different points in the game, which only made things worse. Washington totaled a season high in rushing yards with 248 and scored three touchdowns.