Justin Herbert threw two touchdown passes to Quentin Johnston, J.K. Dobbins rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown and the Los Angeles Chargers controlled most of the game in a 26-3 victory against the host Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte.
Herbert was just 14-for-20 for 130 yards with an interception, but the Chargers (2-0) didn’t need many flashy plays to pick up their first road win under new head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Dobbins averaged 7.7 yards on his 17 carries and scored on a 43-yard run that made it 20-0 in the second quarter. Johnston finished with five receptions and 51 yards to complement his two scores.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young generated little offensively. He finished 18-for-26 for 84 yards and an interception. Chuba Hubbard picked up 64 yards on 10 carries.
Los Angeles stifled Carolina to lead 20-0 at halftime. The Panthers (0-2), who lost 47-10 in Week 1 at New Orleans, had only two first downs and 54 yards of total offense by the break.
By then, there were boos from the Carolina crowd directed at the Panthers in their home opener.
Carolina started the second half by scoring on Eddy Pineiro’s 38-yard field goal. Cameron Dicker restored the 20-point margin on the next possession with a 46-yard field goal for Los Angeles. Dicker hit a 42-yarder in the fourth quarter to close the scoring.
The Chargers tallied 204 yards of first-half offense to seize control.
Herbert capped a 13-play, 67-yard drive on the game’s first possession with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Johnston. The pair connected again on a 5-yard score that made it 13-0 with 4:16 remaining before halftime. Dicker missed the extra point after Johnston’s first touchdown.
The Panthers had an early chance at points after Jaycee Horn intercepted Herbert on the first play of Los Angeles’ second possession.
Carolina took over at the Chargers’ 41-yard line and moved into field goal range before Young was sacked on third down to force a punt. The Panthers failed to record a first down in the opening quarter.
Elijah Molden’s interception halted Carolina’s possession after Johnston’s second score. Dobbins ripped off his 43-yard scamper three plays later to cap the 53-yard drive.
–Field Level Media