I made the Redskins minus four my best bet, so this game didn't go as I thought - or hoped. Maybe it was my bias, but I also found it unwatchable - and that was the condensed version.

• Kirk Cousins seemed off. It didn't help that Jordan Reed was injured (and eventually ejected) or that Vernon Davis, Pierre Garcon and Chris Thompson dropped passes, but the Washington offense wasn't crisp, and most of Cousins' throws were short. Part of that was Carolina's pass rush.

• Cam Newton played well. The Redskins brought a lot of heat, but Newton slung the ball around accurately to a variety of receivers. Newton's motion seems so effortless - even on deep throws -  you can still see the player that carved up the league last year. Something about the Panthers is just off, though, even in a convincing win.

• Greg Olsen had his second straight productive game after about six duds.

• Kelvin Benjamin looked like the unquestioned No. 1 WR to start the year, but he's totally disappeared the last three weeks. In fact, Ted Ginn seems like the team's No. 1 to the extent they even have one.

• Jonathan Stewart ran roughshod over the Redskins defense all game. It's amazing he's still relevant in 2016.

• Rob Kelley had nine carries for eight yards, and it was eight carries too many. It's hard watching a failed run game. Oddly, Cousins ran an option twice where he faked taking it himself and gave it to Kelley. Both times Cousins would have had 10 yards, while Kelley got stuffed.

• DeSean Jackson had a great game, making one good and one amazing catch on the sidelines that were initially ruled incomplete and overturned on challenges. But Cousins never tried to get the ball deep to Jackson, possibly because of the pass rush.

• As I said, this was one of the more unwatchable games of the weekend. The quality of play was low, and there seemed to be penalties at the most frustrating times. I'm glad it's over.