Game 11: Redskins (3-7) vs. Panthers (6-4)

vs.

This could get ugly fast. The NFC South-leading Carolina Panthers are coming to Fed Ex field on Sunday, fresh off a 15-0 shutout of the St. Louis Rams. The Panthers stifling defense allowed the once-mighty Rams only 111 total yards of offense in the game. This does not bode well for the damaged Redskins offense, who will take the field without Clinton Portis and possibly Santana Moss. (ed. note: Santana says Santana will play. -Ben)

Jason Campbell will get his second start behind center for the Redskins, and the young quarterback is really the only reason for Skins fans to watch this game. Campbell had a decent debut last week, going 19 for 34 for 196 yards and 2 TDs last week, but he'll be hard pressed to repeat that success against the Panthers. (ed. note: Jaws loves Jason Campbell. -Ben)

The Redskins may be foundering, but don't expect the Panthers to let up at all. They are locked in a mortal struggle for the NFC South crown with Atlanta and New Orleans nipping at their heels in the division standings. The Panthers must press on without injured running back DeShaun Foster, which is good news for the Redskins' horrible run defense.

The only other saving grace for the Skins is that the game will be played in the friendly confines of FedEx field, where they are 2-2 this season. If you're going to FedEx you should be in for some nice weather; the forecast calls for sunny skies and 63 degree temperatures. The weather may be warm, but I'll be watching from home so I can turn off the TV if the action on the field gets too chilly.

Update, Sat 9am: Ben in with some additional thoughts. For the Panthers on offense, Steve Smith is the name of this game. The Redskins have no answers in the secondary, where the corners are veak and the FS position is toast. Adam Archuleta doesn't play and 55 year old Troy Vincent is injured. This means we'll be seeing more of Vernon Fox, so good luck with that. We need the Everywhere Man Quantex device so we can create 6 Sean Taylor clones to play linebacker and DB.

And apparently, Joe Gibbs had a closed-door rantfest on Wednesday, and I admit as I was watching the news on Wednesday night that the look I saw on Gibbs' face as he walked the practice field looked more like the Old Joe than at any point this year. Wilbon thinks it might work, but it's too late.

Offensively for the Redskins, let's see who steps it up. B-Lloyd has been a B-Bust. Santana is playing hurt and David Patten has been rechristened David Nutten by The Curly R. Maybe Antwaan Randle El will present. A friend asked me this week what I thought about the Redskins running game, and I said it would be a great idea. After running only 14 times last week, I hope the Redskins will try and control the tempo on the ground. Forget about Ladell's fumble last week. It was his first lost fumble of the year, and if the Redskins had been 7-3 at the time or up by two touchdowns in the game, we wouldn't be talking about it. And speaking of fumbles, Tiki may be holding the ball better, but he fumbled again off the field, calling out Tom Coughlin on playcalling, earning a sit-down with the coach, and we know how much Tom loooooooves when players feed the New York media beast. It makes me happy the Giants are imploding.

This is a gameday open thread.