3 bold predictions for the Carolina Panthers at Washington

Jeremy Chinn will outplay Chase Young.

Jeremy Chinn didn’t jump off the page last week the way I predicted he would. But all is not lost.

He can still attract some Defensive Rookie of The Year votes in this game and the next. It’s sure to be mentioned by announcers that both Chinn and Washington’s Chase Young are leading candidates in the race. Last week, I talked about this possibly being an uphill climb against the No. 2 overall selection’s popularity, and the results of the recent Pro Bowl voting back that up.

After initially leading the NFC defensive end category, Carolina Panthers fans were shocked to learn that Brian Burns was left off this year’s Pro Bowl roster in favor of Cameron Jordan, Brandon Graham, and you guessed it… Young.

There’s no doubt that Burns had a better season than Graham and Young. But the latter is the more egregious selection when you compare the numbers.

The good news for Chinn is that members of the media are much more inclined to look at statistics than Pro Bowl voters, which consist of current players, coaches, and fans. However, this doesn’t mean that they are free of bias or won’t give the more recognizable name credit for having a nice year.

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The best thing Chinn can do is to make his case on the field. If his teammates on the offensive line help him by neutralizing Young, the rookie may avenge Burns’ Pro Bowl snub and steal the award.