3 Things to Watch
Banged-up Chargers
San Diego, like Carolina, dealt with a lot of preseason injuries. Unlike the Panthers, the Chargers are feeling the effects of many of them. The offensive line was hit especially hard: center Nick Hardwick (foot) and Pro Bowl offensive tackle Marcus McNeill (neck) aren't expected to play today. The Chargers did sign Jeremy Newberry, who started 14 games for Oakland last season, to replace Hardwick. But it should give Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers a decided advantage over McNeill's replacement, L.J. Shelton. Then there's linebacker Shawne Merriman, who decided to play this season despite a badly injured knee.
Can he Hackett?
Panthers receiver D.J. Hackett is expected to play after missing much of the preseason with a toe injury. He'll add depth to a very thin receiving corps that figures to suffer significantly while Steve Smith serves his two-game suspension. With a limited amount of practice time, Hackett needs to get up to speed quickly to help out Muhsin Muhammad and Dwayne Jarrett.
Rivers' recovery:
Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is coming off knee surgery. Mobility, however, has never been Rivers' forte, so as long as the knee holds up, how he moves around shouldn't be much of a factor today.
The List
Panthers coach John Fox went to high school in Chula Vista, Calif., near San Diego. He attended San Diego State, then later was an assistant coach for the Aztecs and at U.S. International in San Diego. He also was an assistant for the Chargers in 1992-93. Here are Fox's best things about living in San Diego, which is usually at or near the top of the list of America's most livable cities:
1. THE WEATHER: “It's perfect. It doesn't get humid and stays the same the year round.”
2. THE PACIFIC OCEAN: “I enjoy the water, whether it's the ocean or lakes. And it's got to be some of the prettiest coastline in the world.”
3. THE SAN DIEGO ZOO: “That's probably the coolest zoo I've been to.”
4. MEXICAN FOOD: “I love Mexican food. You can get great stuff in San Diego or go down to Mexico for it. You had fish tacos out there way before the rest of the country knew about them.”
Key to the Game
Panthers LB Thomas Davis
Davis moves to weakside linebacker this season, and the switch seems ideal for defending an elusive runner like
LaDainian Tomlinson, who's also a threat as a receiver. Davis is the Panthers' fastest linebacker and is free to pursue the ball carrier from his new position, often without having to shed the blocks of the tight end and offensive linemen.
Davis had 85 tackles, three sacks and forced two fumbles last season.
Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson
Tomlinson, whole led the NFL in rushing last season with 1,474 yards and was the league's most valuable player in 2006, is best in the open field, which is where he will find Davis.
Davis can't do it himself. Tomlinson has 14 runs over 50-plus yards, including an 85-yarder for a score against Kansas City in 2006. So, it'll be important for the Panthers to not over-pursue and to stay “home.”
Panthers Insider
Running back DeAngelo Williams is usually a pretty even-keeled guy. But he got a little fired up last week when he was asked – for probably the 1,000 time over the past month – if the Panthers' running attack will need to step up today in the absence of suspended receiver Smith.
“It seems that you all want to downgrade the fact that we have (receivers) Muhsin Muhammad, Dwayne Jarrett and D.J. Hackett,” Williams said. “I consider that a slap in the face.
“With Steve out, the game will be on all our shoulders. With Jake ( Delhomme) back there, he's a sharpshooter.
“We'll be balanced. I don't think they'll come after us and pack the box (to stop the run). I don't see that. I honestly don't.”
Scott Says
Panthers fans will either be screaming for Fox's head or screaming they are going to the Super Bowl at about 7:30 tonight. There's always an overreaction after WeekOne in the NFL. It's because it has been so long since a real game has been played. For most teams, more than eight months have transpired.
So all that pent-up emotion culminates into a three-hour roller-coaster ride on WeekOne. Fans either walk off feeling dizzy and like they are about to throw up or giddy immediately and wanting to do it again. But trust me: That feeling isn't going to last.
Last season, for instance, Carolina went to St. Louis and beat what was supposedly a decent team in the opener. It turned out the Rams were terrible and the Panthers were below average. You just never know after WeekOne.
So here's my challenge to you after today's game. Take a deep breath. Do not let what just happened overwhelm you, whether it's good or bad. The thinking man's fan knows today only counts for 6.25percent of the regular season. Would you want to be judged on 6.25percent of your work?
With all that said, I think San Diego is going to make the first 6.25percent of the Panthers' season very difficult. Carolina's best chance to win will be based on its defense, which would need to give a Herculean effort to pull an upset of one of the NFL's top five teams. I think it's going to be close, but I don't think it will happen.
My prediction: San Diego 26, Carolina 20.
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