Los Angeles Chargers vs Carolina Panthers Match Player Stats On Dec 11, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Dec 11, 2016

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Graham Gano kicked four field goals and the Carolina Panthers benefited from a strong first half on defense in a 28-16 victory against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium.

The Panthers won despite a rather erratic outing from quarterback Cam Newton, who completed 10 of 27 passes for 160 yards.

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who committed three of his five turnovers in the first half, was 21 of 39 for 236 yards with three interceptions.

It was a much-needed outcome for the Panthers (5-8), who were coming off consecutive losses on the West Coast and dealing with the aftermath of Newton's brief benching because he violated the team's travel dress code.

San Diego threatened several times after trailing 23-0.

The Chargers' 14-play drive in the third quarter resulted in only a field goal.

Rivers threw 19 yards to receiver Dontrelle Inman for a touchdown with 30 seconds to play in the quarter, with an incomplete two-point conversion pass leaving the Chargers trailing 26-16.

San Diego had a chance to pull closer, but linebacker Shaq Thompson intercepted Rivers. The Chargers got the ball back on cornerback Trovon Reed's interception, though his return for a touchdown was negated because it was determined he was down by contact at his own 3-yard line.

That turned out fine for the Panthers because defensive end Mario Addison sacked Rivers for safety at the 10:09 mark.

Then Carolina gambled on fourt-and-1 from midfield with eight minutes to play, converting on running back Jonathan Stewart's 12-yard run.

Panthers safety Kurt Coleman picked off Rivers' fourth-down pass with 3:53 remaining to thwart the comeback bid.

Gano's 41-yard field goal opened the scoring on the Carolina's first possession.

The Panthers needed to go only 35 yards after a punt for the game's first touchdown on Stewart's 1-yard leap.

Rookie cornerback Daryl Worley intercepted Rivers on the first play of the second quarter. That led to an eight-play, 58-yard touchdown drive with Newton throwing 6 yards to receiver Devin Funchess for the score.

Funchess had returned to the game after leaving with a first-quarter mouth injury suffered on the team's first series of the game.

Gano's 44-yard field goal with 5:24 to play in the first half increased the lead.

Linebacker A.J. Klein's sack caused a second Rivers fumble, and Carolina converted on Gano's 45-yard field goal.

Newton completed only 6 of his first 15 passes, yet the Panthers held a 23-0 lead.

Rivers threw 9 yards to tight end Hunter Henry to put the Chargers on the board with 1:03 to play in the first half. Of San Diego's 117 first-half yards, 75 came on the drive.

The Chargers suffered a first-quarter blow when running back Melvin Gordon was taken from the field on a cart after suffering a hip injury. Gordon was hit from behind when players pursued a fumble after Rivers was stripped, with Carolina recovering.

San Diego's defense took a hit when rookie defensive end Joey Bosa left with a neck injury and was to be evaluated for a concussion. The first-round draftee out of Ohio State was injured as he sacked Newton with 6:29 remaining in the second quarter. It was Bosa's first sack of the game and his sixth sack across a nine-game period.

NOTES: Panthers LB Luke Kuechly missed his third game in a row since suffering a concussion Nov. 17. He went through limited practices during the week but wasn't cleared from the concussion protocol. ... The Panthers released CB Robert McClain, a fifth-year player. ... The victory gave Carolina a 1-3 record against AFC West teams this year. ... The Panthers have won five of the six all-time meetings with San Diego. ... Chargers coach Mike McCoy spent eight seasons as an assistant coach for Carolina. ... Panthers coach Ron Rivera is a former San Diego defensive coordinator. ... San Diego is home against Oakland next week. ... The Panthers play next Monday night at Washington.