Here are the four most important battles within Sunday’s Week 2 war between the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Chargers:
Panthers OTs Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton vs. Chargers OLBs Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa
Don’t let the pair of Pro Bowl pass rushers get to your quarterback. Obvious, right?
Well, unfortunately for the Las Vegas Raiders, the pair of Pro Bowl pass rushers got to theirs last week. Bosa and Mack combined for 2.5 sacks and eight pressures of Gardner Minshew, helping keep their division rivals to just 10 points on the afternoon.
Ekwonu and Moton, although relatively solid in their 2024 debuts, combined to allow six pressures of Bryce Young in Week 1.
Panthers HC Dave Canales vs. Chargers S Derwin James
Speaking of Young being pressured, the second-year quarterback ate three sacks from cornerback (yes, cornerback) Alontae Taylor in the regular-season opener. The Panthers simply had no answer to the New Orleans Saints’ nickel blitzes.
So you better believe that the Chargers will move their chess piece James towards the pocket at least a few times. It’s up to Canales, who spoke about putting Young in better protection schemes this week, to find a way to neutralize that part of the All-Pro safety’s game.
Panthers’ front seven vs. Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins
The Panthers, even with Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derrick Brown, allowed the Saints to march on them for 180 rushing yards. Now, they’re without Brown—and are set to face off against a run-heavy offense.
Last week’s ground attack for Los Angeles was led by running back J.K. Dobbins, who notched 135 yards and a touchdown on only 10 carries. And included in those 10 attempts were runs of 46 and 61 yards.
Carolina’s front seven can’t allow Dobbins to escape through their levels in ripping off another long run or two.
Panthers CB Troy Hill vs. Chargers WR Ladd McConkey
McConkey, a draft darling of quite a few Panthers fans this offseason, was quarterback Justin Herbert’s top target in Week 1—tallying team-highs in receptions (five), targets (seven), receiving yards (39) and receiving touchdowns (one).
Per Pro Football Focus, 14 of his 23 snaps in passing situations came out of the slot. So the rookie will be the primary responsibility for the nickel corner Hill, who saw 26 looks (20 more than the next closest Panther) from the slot in New Orleans.
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