4 instant takeaways from the Panthers Week 3 win at Chargers
By Dean Jones
The Carolina Panthers were dominant in the first half
If the Carolina Panthers were looking to avoid the slow start that cost them in Week 2, then this was an objective they achieved in no uncertain terms.
The Panthers were tremendous in the first two quarters, playing with a sense of urgency that was missing in large parts during their opening two games. They controlled the tempo of the game on offense and boosted this with three turnovers that put them in the ascendancy.
If there was one criticism you could have of Carolina’s display in the first half, is that they weren’t up by more than 18-7. They settled for three field goals after failing to convert in the red zone and even one more touchdown would have put the game out of sight.
Phil Snow deserves credit for not getting too cute with his scheme from the outset as he did at the Buccaneers. This allowed the Panthers to get their first two sacks of the season, which also took some of the pressure off their secondary.
A big interception from Donte Jackson late in the second quarter led to another three crucial points. The former LSU standout is making up for lost time after going out early in Week 1 and this should stand a suspect unit in extremely good stead going forward.