NFL Picks Week 7: John Beck Won't Lead Redskins over Panthers

When he made the decision to remove Rex Grossman as his starting quarterback, Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan didn't shy away from telling it like it is.

"You can't constantly turn the football over," Shanahan said, per ESPN. "And if you do, you're going to lose your opportunity to lead the football team."

So, note to John Beck: Don't turn the ball over.

Another note for John Beck: It would help your cause if you won your first start.

That, for the record, will come this Sunday at the Carolina Panthers, who the folks at Bodog have favored by three points.

The Panthers only have one win on the season, but they haven't exactly rolled over in their five losses. They've been tough to put away, and their matchup against the Redskins is one that they can win.

And if you ask me, they will.

One thing we learned when the Redskins were busy losing to the Philadelphia Eagles this past Sunday is that they really don't stand much of a chance if you can put them in an early hole. The Eagles raced out to a 20-0 lead, and that put a lot of pressure on Grossman to lead a comeback.

The ultimate result for Grossman was a four-interception day and an embarrassing benching. Beck played admirably in his stead, but it was too little, too late.

Against the Panthers, an early hole is definitely something the Redskins will have to fear. Cam Newton is quickly developing into one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the league, and you just never know when he's going to hit Steve Smith with a bomb. The two of them alone are a big reason why the Panthers are averaging over 418 yards of offense this year.

Granted, the Redskins do play very good defense, so it's not like they're going to make it easy for Newton and friends. My concern is that the Redskins are going to get off to a bumpy start offensively, which will, in turn, create too many extra opportunities for the Panthers.

It's more likely than you might think. The Redskins are not a strong offensive team, and there's just no way of knowing whether or not Beck is going to be the upgrade that the Redskins hope he is. The Redskins will no doubt try to run the ball, but Beck will have to contribute sooner or later.

If and when the Panthers do establish an early lead, the game could very well be in the bag. The Redskins are at their best when they are pounding away on the ground and dictating the time of possession battle. Urgently trying to score points is not something that they are built to do.

Urgently trying to score points is pretty much the only thing the Panthers do well. I don't expect that to change against the Redskins, and I think it will ultimately result in a W for the home team.

Panthers 28, Redskins 20