It’s the first game of the season and when you look around for game previews you see a focus on last season stats. Maybe that means something for a Chargers team that tweaked its roster in the offseason but it means nothing for this Panthers team. We just want to forget last season completely and I doubt you will learn much game planning based on the Panthers 2007 season.

With that said every game always hinges on execution and a few key match-ups. As I’ve said before the difference between a winning team and a losing one is only a few degrees of separation, a break down here, an exception individual play there. In the Panthers opener against the Chargers the key match-ups are pretty obvious.

Panthers WR’s Musin Muhammad & DJ Hackett vs. Chargers CB’s Quentin Jammer & Antonio Cromartie

It’s no secret the Panthers will want to run the ball but the Panther passing attack must show enough teeth to keep the Charger safeties out of the box. Cromartie led the NFL in INT’s last season so Jake must be careful not to throw some of the risky passes he is prone to throwing. He must look off the safeties at every opportunity and the Panther receivers cannot afford any drops or bad routes. With Hackett nursing an injury since early August he may be largely ineffective. Look for Moose and hopefully Dwayne Jarrett to provide the key 3^rd down catches. The Panthers will also need to take a shot downfield early to keep the Charger secondary honest, even if it’s a pass out of bounds.

Panthers RT Jeff Otah vs. Chargers LB Phillips and DE Olshansky

The rookie will get his baptism by fire in week one as he faces a salty Chargers defense designed to confuse. Otah must minimize his mistakes and play with power and aggression. It’s time to see that ‘nasty’ side he heard so much about leading up to the draft and during TC.

Panthers C Ryan Kalil vs. Chargers NG Jamal Williams

The offensive line as a whole must play together against the Chargers potent 3-4 defense and it all starts up front with neutralizing the mammoth nose guard Williams. He’s a wily veteran of 11 seasons who will try to knock Kalil on his ass at every opportunity. Certainly Kalil will get help from the Panther guards on probably every play but Kalil must be able to hold his ground. Theoretically the Panthers should be able to run against a 3-4 with their 5 big bodies versus 3 but the key his executing their assignments. FB Brad Hoover must also have a good game hitting the hole but I’m not worried too much about Hoov, he is Mr. Reliable.

When the Panthers are on Defense:

Panthers DE Julius Peppers vs. Chargers LT LJ Shelton

Shelton may be the Chargers back-up but he’s an experienced veteran who has started in the past. Regardless, he better be on his game or Peppers will cream Chargers QB Phillip Rivers in passing situations. As Peppers demonstrated during the preseason he’s stronger and faster than ever and most left tackles will be matching up with him for the first time. The Panthers will need Peppers to harass Phillips all day, notch a sack or three and create a turnover that leads to Panther points.

Panthers LB Jon Beason vs. Chargers RB LaDanian Tomlinson

All of the Panthers LB’s will have the responsibility to keep Tomlinson from turning the corner but it starts with Beason shooting the gaps. Tomlinson will get his yards but the Panthers must prevent the big plays from the most dangerous RB in the league. The Chargers will test the Panthers run defense from the start and if the Panther LB’s can’t make plays early it could be along day for the defense.

Panthers S’s Chris Harris and Charles Godfrey vs. Chargers TE Antonio Gates

The Chargers scouting report on the Panthers will show the Panthers have had a hard time covering TE’s in the middle of the field. Expect Chargers QB Rivers to target Gates on critical 3^rd downs and plays designed to match him up with supposedly slower LB’s. The Panthers should counter with SS Chris Harris keeping a close eye on Gates on obvious passing downs.

Special Teams

I think the Panthers are going to reap big rewards from an improved kick-off coverage game that starts the booming kicks of specialist Rhys Lloyd. The weather in San Diego will be balmy so I expect the Panthers to keep the Chargers starting from the 20 yard line at the best.

The kick return game is a complete unknown given return man Mark Royal just joined the team. I don’t expect the fact that Royal spent TC with the Chargers to help much. We can only help he doesn’t make any mistakes that cost the Panthers on the scoreboard.