The Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Chargers met for the seventh time on Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. The two teams have faced off six times in the past, and the Panthers lead the all-time series, 5-1.
Both teams suffered significant injuries last week so Week 3 was either team’s game to win. In the end, the Panthers broke their 10-game losing streak and won their first game of the season as they defeated the Chargers by a score of 21-16 in a game full of field goals and turnovers.
First Half
The Panthers put the first points up in their second drive when Joey Slye put a field goal through the posts from 29 yards out. In the Chargers’ second possession, Justin Herbert was sacked by Brian Burns and Tahir Whitehead recovered the ball, giving possession back to Carolina.
Carolina capitalized on the turnover with another field goal kick by Slye, this time from 24 yards with four-and-a-half minutes on the clock. Meanwhile, the Chargers finished the first quarter and started the second in the following possession as they put their first points of the game on the board when Austin Ekeler rushed the ball for a 12-yard touchdown.
The Panthers finished their first drive in the second quarter with another field goal kick by Slye. This time, he put it through the posts from 30 yards out and the Panthers reclaimed the lead, 9-7.
Just as in the first quarter, the Chargers turned over the ball in their second drive of the second quarter when Joshua Kelley rushed the ball 16 yards before fumbling and allowing Shaq Thompson to recover the loose ball.
Again, Carolina capitalized on the turnover when Teddy Bridgewater connected with Mike Davis for a 13-yard touchdown. Slye missed the extra point and the score was 15-7 with just under three minutes left in the half.
The Panthers had one more chance to score before halftime when Donte Jackson intercepted the ball in the Chargers’ next drive, forcing a turnover. In turn, Slye kicked the ball from 22 yards out and put it through the posts to extend the Carolina lead going into the locker rooms, 18-7.
Second Half
The Chargers opened the second half with possession of the ball and neither team was able to put any points on the board until the third quarter was nearly over. With just over a minute to play, Michael Badgley put a 41-yard field goal through the posts for the Chargers, closing the gap in the score to 18-10.
Carolina started the fourth quarter with possession of the ball and Slye finished the drive with a 31-yard field goal that gave the Panthers a little more wiggle room.
The Chargers answered in their first possession after Herbert connected with Keenan Allen for a 14-yard touchdown. The score was 21-16 with four-and-a-half minutes left to play. It remained the same throughout the rest of the game.
Carolina wasn’t able to convert their final drive into any points on the board and the game ended in the Chargers’ next drive. Herbert connected with Keenan Allen on the final play. He shoveled the ball to Austin Ekeler as time expired, but the running back couldn’t control the football. Efe Obada recovered the ball to end the game.
Highlights
THIEVESSS‼️ pic.twitter.com/EepRugzVaH
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 27, 2020
SPIKE THAT BIG MIKE!@MikeDavisRB | #KeepPounding
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 27, 2020
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/MAOfti9aY6
BIG. BEAR.@jbbigbear | #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/pPmdM5wwve
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) September 27, 2020
West Coast Dub 🌴 pic.twitter.com/zGjqnubjdb
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 27, 2020
The Panthers return home to Charlotte next Sunday to face the Arizona Cardinals while the Chargers travel to Tampa Bay to play against the Buccaneers.
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Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
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