With the playoff picture out of sight, the Carolina Panthers show no quit in a 28-16 victory over San Diego…
Despite a rocky west coast road trip, the Carolina Panthers rebounded at home against the San Diego Chargers pulling out a 28-16 victory.
Rookie corner Daryl Worley led the Panthers defense with ten total tackles, while the defense as a whole forced 5 turnovers against the veteran quarterback in Philip Rivers.
Early in the game, Chargers’ running back Melvin Gordon exited the game via cart with a hip injury. Fortunately for the Chargers, Gordon is expected back at some point this season.
For Carolina, the game started with a hot streak as the scoreboard showed 23-0 in the second quarter. An eight play, 58 yard drive in the second featured a laser strike to Devin Funchess from Cam Newton. Funchess finished the day with two receptions, the second being a touchdown grab.
Both teams have been stuck by the injury bug with each having a handful of players on the season ending Injured Reserve list. Despite the adversity, Carolina has not quit this season and is now fighting to finish the season with a .500 record.
What can the Carolina Panthers take away from this performance building up to the final stretch?
DEFENSIVE LINE KEEPS POUNDING
Despite tumultuous swings in defensive play, the Carolina Panthers brought their best show in front of the home fans on Sunday, taking down Rivers a total of five times.
Kawann Short, who largely has been underperforming this season contributed two sacks, two tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. This is the play that fans have come to expect from Short and he brought it this week.
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“KK, every week, he’s consistent. He brings it. We just rely on guys like that to be the factor in those crucial points of the game, third and fourth quarter when the game’s on the line,” said teammate Wes Horton postgame.
While many stats aren’t the best in the league the Panthers now lead the NFL with 39 sacks. In order for the Panthers to be successful in the secondary with young rookies largely covering the receivers the front four have to find ways to disrupt. On Sunday, they did just that.
OFFENSE STILL IN FLUX
While the Carolina Panthers offense provided ample points in Sunday’s contest the struggles that have plagued the team this season still reared their head. Newton was only 10-of-27 for 160 yards, adding a touchdown and red zone interception. In the running game, Carolina finished the day with a respectable 126 yards and a touchdown.
But all too often, receivers were missed and breakdowns in the execution of pass blocking took place.
Newton took to the podium postgame, and acknowledged some of the offensive faults.
Dec 11, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) waits for a touchdown signal during the first quarter against San Diego Chargers inside linebacker Korey Toomer (56) at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
“You know offensively, not to rain on the win, we have to put up points, points as in getting touchdowns.”
“We have to have that type of mentality, that killer instinct and we didn’t have it. But we found ways to win and that’s positive and the optimism of it.”
Currently, the Panthers find themselves 13th in scoring offense for the league, a number they hope see increase next season.
LEARNING TO FINISH
While the Panthers picked up the victory on Sunday, it didn’t go without a little headache towards the end.
Up 26-16 in the fourth quarter and near the end zone, Newton delivered a ball that was behind receiver Kelvin Benjamin which was returned 100-yards the other way for a touchdown. Fortunately, San Diego was ruled down at the three yard line after Trovon Reed fell to the ground. Had the score stood it would have brought San Diego to within a field goal.
Despite the rocky finish, head coach Ron Rivera had positivity to preach afterwards, when asked about what he said to the team in the fourth quarter Rivera replied, “Nothing, other than keep pounding. Honestly. Again, I really felt good about it.”
Next week, the Carolina Panthers face old teammate Josh Norman and the Washington Redskins, Monday night on the road.
