Panthers 21 Chargers 16: Stat review

The Carolina Panthers toppled the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3 in what was pretty much an inverse performance of their two losses. Despite scoring more points on the scoreboard, the Panthers didn’t have any eye-popping stats. But they won the turnover battle and put up just enough points to keep the Chargers at bay.

Three key numbers from the game

• 8: The number of quarterback hits registered by the Panthers. Not only did the Panthers notch their first two sacks of the season courtesy of Marquise Haynes and Brian Burns, but they also nonupled their quarterback hits on the season, going from one to nine. Defensive tackle Zach Kerr leads the team with three.
• 12: Tackles registered by Jeremy Chinn. Chinn’s 12 tackles are the most by any rookie this season, and the most by a Panthers rookie since Daryl Worley in Week 12 of the 2016 season. He’s 11th in the league in total tackles and has a four tackle lead on the next best rookie.
• 16.67%: The Panthers red zone touchdown percentage on Sunday. The Panthers made it to the red zone six times against the Chargers and came away with exactly one touchdown, and even that touchdown was gift wrapped to them thanks to a Chargers penalty on a field goal attempt. The Panthers have now converted 38.46% of their red zone trips into touchdowns, which is 30th in the league. The only two teams worse than the Panthers both play in New York, so the Panthers are in last place for all intents and purposes.

Notable snap counts

• Mike Davis stepped in for Christian McCaffrey but didn’t quite handle the full allotment of snaps, seeing the field for 76% of the Panthers snaps.
• DJ Moore didn’t see many targets, but he led the receivers group in snaps for the third time in as many weeks. He’s been on the field for 88% of offensive snaps this season, the most for any skill position player.
• Rasul Douglas solidified himself as a regular starter, playing 100% of the defensive snaps.
• Juston Burris, Tre Boston, and Jeremy Chinn all played 100% of the snaps as well. The trio of safeties has played all but two snaps through three games.
• Troy Pride Jr. bounced back and played 51% of the defensive snaps after playing just 13% in Week 2, likely due to Donte Jackson being shaken up at one point during the game.

Other tidbits

• The Panthers rank 28th in Football Outsiders’ DVOA (20th in offense, 30th in defense, 14th in special teams)
• Teddy Bridgewater is seventh in the NFL in passing yards and 30th in passing touchdowns