4 keys to victory for the Carolina Panthers at the Chargers in Week 3

Give Teddy Bridgewater time in the pocket

Teddy Bridgewater went through his fair share of struggles in Week 2 following a promising debut. His three turnovers turned into 17 points for the Buccaneers and this is something that cannot continue if he wants to make the most out of his second big starting opportunity in the NFL.

The signal-caller has been relatively consistent distributing the ball during his career, so we should give Bridgewater the benefit of the doubt. However, if the former first-round pick wants to get back on track at the Chargers then his offensive line needs to stand up against what can only be described as a phenomenal pass-rush.

This is, of course, led by the ferocious tandem of Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa. They are arguably the NFL’s best duo and it is going to be incredibly difficult to keep them out of the backfield. But Ingram’s status remains in question and it remains to be seen whether the edge rusher will be healthy enough to take his place in the lineup.

The Carolina Panthers will need the experience of Russell Okung fit and ready to go on Sunday. He is officially listed as questionable after missing practice and although the blow will be lessened by Ingram’s potential absence, it is still going to be a significant problem.

There appears little chance of Taylor Moton switching over to the left thanks to the presence of Bosa on the other side. This is going to be a must-watch matchup between the and who gets the upper hand could become a leading influence in their team’s success.

Bridgewater also needs to go through his reads quicker, recognize pressure when it’s coming, and ensure that he identifies defensive formations quickly to minimize the risk of making mistakes.