Panthers Chargers Line

Written by Jack Jones - Google +

It should be an interesting week 1 matchup when the Carolina Panthers head out to Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego to take on the Chargers on Sunday, September 7th. We want to get you fully prepared for the game with our Panthers/Chargers predictions on the score. The early point spread shows the Chargers as 9-point favorites with a total of 41.5.

San Diego had struggled with the mantle of being unable to win a playoff game over recent years, but last season they turned that around with a pair of victories in the postseason. They might have even had a chance against the Patriots if the team didn’t fall hard to injuries. Three of the key cogs on offense in LaDanian Tomlinson, Philip Rivers, and Antonio Gates were either limited or out. Health issues could also plague the team in 2008 as several of their best players will be banged up to start the season. Those three players were still nursing their injuries as they came into training camp, but all are expected to play in the season opener.

Tomlinson remains the focus of the team’s offense and he led the NFL in both rushing yard, with 1,474, and touchdowns, he had 15. He should be 100% at this point, even though Rivers and Gates won’t quite be up to full strength.

The defense is also going through a tough time with Shawn Merriman, the team’s star outside linebacker, playing through the pain this season even though he has two torn ligaments in his left knee. He wants to play through the pain and take care of it in the off-season.

If the Chargers can play through the injuries and get healthy, then this team will win the AFC West and be among the top contenders for the AFC Championship. If they don’t then it could be a long year in San Diego.

While the Chargers are dealing with injuries, the Panthers have to deal with the loss of their star wide receiver Steve Smith for different reasons. Smith was suspended by head coach John Fox after an altercation in practice in which he broke cornerback Ken Lucas’s nose. That was a tough move for Fox, whose job could be on the line if Carolina doesn’t get back to the playoffs for the first time in three years. The team lost seven of their last 10 games a year ago to end up at 7-9.

If the Panthers want to get back to competing for the NFC, they will need Jake Delhomme to come up big. Delhomme missed the last 13 games of 2007 with a right elbow injury and with him on the sidelines Carolina ranked 29th in the NFL with only 285 ypg.

There were plenty of names added to the roster in order to help Delhomme increase the team’s production. Jonathan Stewart was the team’s first round draft pick and the running back will provide some depth to the backfield. Veteran receivers Muhsin Muhammad and D.J. Hackett will give Delhomme some new targets to throw to.

Predicted Score: Chargers 27, Panthers 17

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