The problems might not have been as dramatic as the week before, but the results were the same. The Panthers lost 26-3 at home to the Chargers to fall to 0-2. While last week's game at New Orleans was over quickly, this one was more gradual. The Panthers held up acceptably against the Chargers' run game early, and created some turnovers on defense. But like last week, they failed to generate much in the way of offense. The team gained just 159 total yards, and were 1-of-12 on third-down conversions. Quarterback Bryce Young was held in check again, as the second-year quarterback couldn't get anything going early. The game plan was a careful one, with most of his early passes of the safe and short variety. His one shot downfield in the first half was picked off across the middle. He was 8-of-10 for 22 yards passing in the first half with the interception, for a passer rating of 39.6 in the first 30 minutes. He finished the game 18-of-26 for 84 yards and the pick, for a 57.2 passer rating.
While that was happening, the Chargers continued to pile on in a patient and methodical way. Similarly to their 176-yard rushing debut last week being built on a few explosive runs, the Chargers were willing to grind away at the Panthers. They finished the game with 219 on the ground. Running back JK Dobbins had 17 carries for 131 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown run, while Gus Edwards added 18 carries for 59 yards. That speaks to their style, but also to a defense that was forced to deal with the loss of Pro Bowl defensive tackle Derrick Brown to a season-ending knee injury last week.
The Chargers Offense Looks Ready To Explode
The Chargers enter the game under different circumstances, with a 1-0 record after a divisional win against the Las Vegas Raiders last week. In the 22-10 win, quarterback Justin Herbert went 17 of 26 for 144 yards and one touchdown. Running back J.K. Dobbins shined, with a team high 135 yards on the ground, the third most in the league in Week 1. The Panthers allowed 180 yards rushing last week, third most in the NFL, so this becomes a mismatch in favor of the Chargers.
Canales Has a Lot to Prove in His First Home Game
The Carolina Panthers are firmly on the back foot just one week into the 2024 season. Dave Canales' first game as head coach was a complete catastrophe, conceding 47 points and putting together a disjointed offensive performance en route to an embarrassing loss that sapped any optimism about this team's chances for good measure. Canales is confident this won't become the norm as the campaign progresses. He'll be looking for an immediate response when the Los Angeles Chargers come to town for Carolina's home opener. Anything less won't be well received by the fans in attendance. Winning changes everything. It always has and always will. Jim Harbuagh's done that everywhere he's been and plans to continue this trend with the Chargers. The Panthers must be ready for a battle during a game that could be won or lost in the trenches.
The Panthers Face a Mountainous Task
It was another long, dreadful Sunday for the Carolina Panthers as they dropped their 2024 home opener to the Los Angeles Chargers, 26-3. The offense totaled 159 yards on the day and have combined to score a total of 13 points through the first two weeks of the season. Here are some of my initial thoughts on the Panthers' latest disappointment. This is my fifth year covering the Panthers which means I've witnessed plenty of bad football here. But this...this is a whole other level of bad. This team has absolutely no rhythm or answers offensively and will need an absurd amount of good fortune to leave a Sunday afternoon/evening feeling good. I've harped on depth being an issue for this team all offseason/preseason long, but now I'll turn my attention to the starters. They have way too many players starting on both sides of the ball that shouldn't be in those roles. When you don't have depth, you better have a top-heavy roster and clearly, that doesn't exist here. 0-17 may be harsh, but please, point to a game on the schedule this team will be favored in. You can look all you want, but you won't find it.
After last week's 47-10 debacle, it's hard to be optimistic, even as a player. Yes, it's a long season, but you feel like you're already walking up a steep hill just one game into the year. Outside of a few players on defense (Jaycee Horn, Shaq Thompson, and A'Shawn Robinson) the confidence of this team looks shot. It looks like a group that is unsure of what they're doing and are thinking more than they're playing. Too many "Oh, not again" or "You got to be kidding me" reactions after a bad play happens.
A Deeper Look at Young's Struggles
Dave Canales has not called for many shots downfield in the passing game and when there are routes of significant depth, Young typically avoids them and checks the ball down. This passing game lives in the flats which is not going to get you anywhere. In the first half, Young threw it downfield once and it resulted in an interception. In the 10 passing attempts through the first 30 minutes, Young targeted just one receiver, Diontae Johnson, three times. The other seven targets went to running backs and tight ends for a grand total of 22 yards, the lowest mark in a half of Young's career. Can the Panthers pull off a miracle? Or will the Chargers take advantage of the uncertainty surrounding quarterback Bryce Young to get their second win in as many games? Anyone unable to view the game for whatever reason can keep up to date with the team's progress on WRFX 99.7 The Fox or the Carolina Panthers Radio Network. The Panthers' home opener will be broadcast live on CBS. 506 Sports has a national map of the games and where they can be viewed. Carolina doesn't feature in many places as expected, so check your local listings for more information. Anyone who isn't able to view the Panthers game on CBS due to their location can stream the contest. There are plenty of options available for fans both in or out of the designated markets this weekend.
The Chargers Have Momentum on Their Side
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) warms up before an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)AP Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers make the cross-country flight to Carolina for a Sunday afternoon matchup with the underdog Panthers. The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. ET with TV coverage on CBS and streaming on-demand. NFL Week 2 matchup at a glance When: Sunday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. ET Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C. TV channel: CBS Live streams: FuboTV (free trial) | SlingTV (low intro rate) | DirecTV Stream (free trial) | Paramount+ (free trial) The Chargers arrive in Carolina as 5-point road favorites after jumping out to a 1-0 start with a Week 1 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. J.K. Dobbins led a revamped Chargers rushing attack with his 10 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by a 12-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter that stretched the Chargers lead to 16-7 with 14:55 to play. Los Angeles leaned on smart, solid play in the debut of coach Jim Harbaugh, which should also be the team blueprint to go into Carolina and improve to 2-0. Carolina fans saw more of the same in Week 1 from a team that went 2-15 last season with then-rookie quarterback Bryce Young working through early growing pains. Those pains continued into Week 1 of Young’s second season with a 47-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Young, last year’s No. 1 overall draft pick completed 13 of 30 for 161 yards and two INTs. The Chargers and Panthers are set for a 1 p.m. ET start on CBS. Live streams are available from FuboTV (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial) and SlingTV (low intro rate). The game will also stream on Paramount+, which offers a free trial for new users. This is a time for big characters and strong resolve. Canales must ensure Week 1's rout by the Saints doesn't set the tone for the entire campaign. That's easier said than done, but fans will be demanding nothing but maximum effort and plenty of personal pride in pursuit of an immediate turnaround. Whether this downtrodden team is capable of this is another matter. We'll find out much more about them against the Chargers that's for sure.
