Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers start rewriting record book in rout of Panthers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bank of America Stadium rises from the center of Charlotte’s Uptown district like a teal-colored fortress. For Jim Harbaugh, the building brings back memories both good and bad.
It’s where he suited up for his final season as a quarterback, standing on the sidelines for six games without throwing a pass for a team that went 1-15. But that lost season also convinced him to become a coach, and a dozen years later he came back to Carolina to win his last playoff game as an NFL head coach.
Harbaugh made another happy — and historic — homecoming Sunday, this time roaming the sidelines for the Chargers, who routed the Panthers 26-3 before 74,000 mostly empty seats.
The return was historic because just two weeks into the Harbaugh Era, the Chargers already are rewriting their record books.
Chargers run out the clock and clinch the win
On first down at the Carolina 26, Justin Herbert took a knee three times to run out the clock.
The Chargers start 2-0 for the first time since 2012.
Chargers 26, Carolina 3, end of the fourth quarter
Carolina turns the ball over near its red zone
Carolina returned a punt to its 19-yard line.
Bryce Young completed a one-yard pass and a six-yard pass before tossing two incomplete passes and turning the ball over at the Panthers’ 26-yard line.
The two-minute warning hit before the Chargers took over.
Chargers 26, Carolina 3, 1:59 left in the fourth quarter
Chargers take time off the clock and punt
The Chargers started at their 43-yard line and Justin Herbert remained in the lineup late in the contest.
Gus Edwards ran for five yards and then another three yards. Hassan Haskins ran for five yards and then another yard on his next carry.
Quentin Johnston ran for 13 yards and the Chargers were called for holding. On second-and-19, Haskins ran for five yards. On third-and-14, the Chargers punted.
Chargers 26, Carolina 3, 5:59 left in the fourth quarter
Chargers pick up a fourth down stop
Carolina returned the Chargers kickoff to the Panthers’ 27-yard line.
Bryce Young passed to Adam Thielen for 10 yards. Young then tossed a jump pass to Miles Sander for a one-yard gain. Sanders then ran for six yards. On third-and-two, Young’s pass sailed out and off target. On fourth-and-two, a Carolina player required treatment and it triggered an injury timeout.
Young passed to Diontae Johnson for seven yards and a first down. Young then scrambled for six yards. Miles Sanders ran for two yards. On third-and-two, Miles Sanders ran for five yards.
On first down at the Chargers’ 35, Young tossed an incomplete pass and Carolina was called for a face mask penalty.
On first-and-25 at the 50, Young passed to Chuba Hubbard for two yards. Young then passed to Hubbard for five yards. On third-and-18, Young tossed an incomplete pass.
On fourth-and-18, Young passed to Adam Thielen for 10 yards and the Panthers turned the ball over at the Chargers’ 43.
Chargers 26, Carolina 3, 5:59 left in the fourth quarter
Chargers tack on another field goal
On second-and-six at the Chargers’ 29 to start the fourth quarter, Justin Herbert tossed an incomplete pass.
Herbert passed to Ladd McConkey, but there was a flag on the play. Carolina was called for a personal foul face mask penalty.
On first down at the Carolina 41, J.K. Dobbins ran for seven yards. After a Chargers timeout, Dobbins ran for no gain. On third-and-three, Dobbins ran for six yards.
Gus Edwards ran for one yard. Edwards ran again, this time for four yards. On third-and-five, Herbert’s pass to Quentin Johnston sailed high and out of the end zone.
Cameron Dicker hit a 42-yard field goal to close the drive.
Chargers 26, Carolina 3, 11:02 left in the fourth quarter
Justin Herbert returns after a hard hit
Justin Herbert didn’t appear to favor the leg that got hit and returned to the field for the Chargers’ next drive after a medical tent visit.
The Chargers started at their 25-yard line. Gus Edwards ran for four yards as time expired in the third quarter.
Chargers 23, Carolina 3, end of third quarter
Chargers’ defense gets a quick stop after Justin Herbert’s turnover
Carolina started on its 17.
Miles Sanders ran for a loss of two yards and then carried the ball again for a gain of three yards.
Bryce Young passed to Tommy Tremble for seven yards.
On fourth-and-two at the Carolina 25, the Panthers punted following a Chargers timeout. The Chargers took a fair catch at the Chargers’ 24-yard line.
Chargers 23, Carolina 3, nine seconds left in the third quarter
Justin Herbert fumbles and Carolina recovers
The Chargers started at their 30-yard line.
J.K. Dobbins ran for four yards. Justin Herbert passed to Will Dissly for 15 yards. Herbert then passed to Joshua Palmer for 11 yards.
Gus Edwards ran twice for gains of four and two yards. On third-and-four, Hebert passed to Quentin Johnston for a nine-yard gain and a first down.
On first down at the Carolina 25, Herbert passed to Dobbins for no gain. Edwards then ran for six yards. On third-and-four, Herbert tried to pass out of collapsing pocket and the play was called a fumble recovered by Carolina.
Herbert was slow getting up after the Carolina defense forced him to his knees and down at an awkward angle. He left the field gingerly under his own power as officials reviewed the play. The fumble call was upheld and Carolina recovered it at its 17.
Herbert ducked into the blue medical tent as Carolina took over.
Chargers 23, Carolina 3, 2:03 left in the third quarter
Chargers’ defense forces another punt
Carolina started at its 35 after the touchback.
Chuba Hubbard ran for three yards. Bryce Young then tossed an incomplete pass and was sacked on third-and-seven.
Carolina punted and the Chargers took a fair catch at their 30-yard line.
Chargers 23, Carolina 3, 7:31 left in the third quarter
Chargers counter with a field goal
After Carolina was called for illegal formation on the kickoff, the Chargers started on their 35.
J.K. Dobbins ran for 14 yards. Gus Edwards then ran for three yards, Justin Herbert passed for five yards and Edwards was stuff for no gain on third-and-two.
Cameron Dicker hit a 46-yard field goal to extend the Chargers’ lead.
Chargers 23, Carolina 3, 9:03 left in the third quarter
Carolina hits a field goal
The Chargers’ kickoff fell short of the landing zone for a penalty and Carolina started at its 40-yard line.
Bryce Young passed to Tommy Tremble for a 12-yard gain. Chuba Hubbard then broke free for a 23-yard gain before he was tackled by Derwin James at the Chargers’ 25.
Hubbard ran for four yards and then another yard. On third-and-five at the Chargers’ 20, Young’s pass sailed out of bounds.
Eddy Pineiro hit the 38-yard field goal.
Chargers 20, Carolina 3, 12:18 left in the third quarter
Chargers’ defense delivers first-half shutout
Carolina returned a kickoff 21 yards to its 22-yard line before triggering the two-minute warning.
Chuba Hubbard ran for eight yards and then another five for a first down.
Bryce Young passed to Hubbard for a one-yard gain. Young then dumped the ball to Hubbard as his pocket was collapsing and Hubbard gained eight yards, but Carolina was called for holding.
On second-and-19, Young passed to Diontae Johnson for four yards. On third-and-15, Young passed to Miles Sanders for five yards. The Chargers called timeout with 25 seconds left to give them a chance to try to score before halftime.
The Panthers punted and it was downed at the Chargers’ one-yard line, effectively ending the Chargers’ push to score quickly.
Justin Herbert kept the ball for a one-yard run and the Chargers let the clock expire in the second quarter.
Chargers 20, Carolina 0, end of the second quarter
J.K. Dobbins pulls away for 44-yard touchdown
The Chargers started at the Carolina 47 after the Bryce Young interception.
Justin Herbert passed to Joshua Palmer for eight yards. Gus Edwards ran for one yard. On third-and-one, Dobbins ran up the left sideline and dove for a 44-yard touchdown.
Cameron Dicker hit the extra point.
Chargers 20, Carolina 0, 2:01 left in the second quarter
Chargers’ defense haunts Bryce Young
Carolina started on its 32-yard line after 31-yard kickoff return.
Chuba Hubbard ran for 11 yards and tried to fire up his teammates.
On the next play, Bryce Young’s pass intended for Dio Johnson was intercepted by Elijah Molden, who returned it eight yards to the Carolina 47.
Chargers 13, Carolina 0, 3:24 left in the second quarter
Chargers’ run game fuels touchdown drive
The Chargers started on their 35-yard line.
J.K. Dobbins evaded tackles to extend a nine-yard run. Dobbins was then stopped for no gain. On third-and-one, Dobbins plunged up the middle for seven yards and the first down.
Herbert’s pocket collapsed and he ran up the middle for eight yards without taking a big hit. Gus Edwards ran for four yards to the Carolina 37.
Edwards ran for another six yards as the Chargers tried to return to the run plays that led to their first touchdown.
On second-and-four, Dobbins ran for six yards and the first down at the Carolina 25.
Herbert’s pass was incomplete, but Carolina was called for illegal use of hands to the face. On first down at the Carolina 20, Herbert kept the ball for a 13-yard gain.
Edwards ran for two yards to the Carolina 5. Herbert tossed an incomplete pass up the middle. On third-and-goal at the Carolina 5, Herbert passed to a wide open Quentin Johnston.
Cameron Dicker hit the extra point after a rare miss earlier in the game.
Chargers 13, Carolina 0, 4:16 left in the second quarter
Chargers’ defense continues to cook
Carolina started on its 20-yard line.
Bryce Young passed to Tommy Tremble for four yards and to Diontae Johnson for four yards. On third-and-two at the Carolina 28, the Panthers were called for false start. On third-and-seven, Young passed quickly to Ja’Tavion Sanders, who was immediately swarmed and dropped by Ja’Sir Taylor after gaining two yards.
Carolina punted out of bounds at the Chargers’ 35.
Chargers 6, Carolina 0, 10:17 left in the second quarter
Punters stay busy as Chargers’ drive stalls
The Chargers started on the Carolina 49.
Justin Herbert passed to Will Dissly for seven yards. J.K. Dobbins then rushed for a loss of two yards. On third-and-four, Herbert felt pressure and couldn’t find any open receivers. His throw sailed high past Ladd McConkey.
The Chargers punted to the end zone for a touchback.
Chargers 6, Carolina 0, 12:54 left in the second quarter
Chargers force another Carolina punt
On third-and-four at the Carolina 19, Bryce Young passed to Miles Sanders for a loss of two yards and Carolina punted.
Derius Davis returned the punt 15 yards to the Carolina 49.
Chargers 6, Carolina 0, 14:32 left in the second quarter
Chargers hold Carolina scoreless in first quarter
On first down at the Carolina 13, Miles Sanders ran for two yards and then another four yards as time expired in first quarter.
Chargers 6, Carolina 0, end of the first quarter
Chargers punt on fourth-and-one at their 49
On first down at the Chargers’ 30, Gus Edwards ran for three yards. Justin Herbert then passed to Will Dissly for seven yards.
Edwards ran for six yards. J.K. Dobbins then ran for three yards. On third-and-one, Edwards was stopped for no gain. On fourth-and-one at the Chargers’ 49, the team punted.
The Panthers caught the ball out of bounds at their 16-yard line.
Chargers 6, Carolina 0, 2:52 left in the first quarter
Denzel Perryman helps stuff Panthers drive after interception
After Justin Herbert’s interception, the Panthers started on their 41-yard line.
Bryce Young passed to Chuba Hubbard for four yards. Hubbard then ran for a yard. On third-and-five at the Chargers’ 36, Young was sacked by Denzel Perryman for a loss of seven yards.
The play bounced the Panthers out of field-goal range and forced a punt.
The Chargers’ Derius Davis signaled for a fair catch, the ball bounced off Davis and the Panthers recovered. Carolina was called for interference on the catch and the Chargers retained the ball.
Chargers 6, Carolina 0, 4:55 left in the first quarter
Justin Herbert tosses an interception
The Chargers started on their 25-yard line.
Justin Herbert evaded a sack and rolled to his right and tossed the ball across his body up the field. Jaycee Horn intercepted the ball and fell at the Chargers’ 41-yard line.
Chargers 6, Carolina 0, 7:38 left in the first quarter
Carolina punts on its first drive
After a touchback, the Panthers started on their 30-yard line.
Chuba Hubbard ran for four yards. Hubbard ran for another four yards, with Joey Bosa joining on the stop. On third-and-two, Bryce Young passed to Tommy Tremble, but the pass was broken up by Kristian Fulton.
Carolina punted and the ball went out of bounds.
Chargers 6, Carolina 0, 7:49 left in the first quarter
Chargers score a touchdown but miss extra point
After struggling to move the ball last week, the Chargers found a lot more breathing room on their opening drive.
The Chargers started on their 33.
Justin Herbert passed Quentin Johnston for three yards. J.K. Dobbins then ran three consecutive times for five yards, 11 yards and three yards, moving the ball to the Carolina 45-yard line.
On second-and-seven, Herbert’s pass was incomplete but the Panthers were called for hands to the face after Jadeveon Clowney pulled off Joe Alt’s helmet.
On first down on the Carolina 40, Dobbins ran for no gain. Herbert passed to Ladd McConkey for 11 yards, with McConkey ducking out of one tackle to get the first down.
Gus Edwards gained five yards on his first carry. Edwards ran for another seven yards on the next play, but the Chargers were called for illegal formation on the play.
On second-and-10, Herbert evaded a sack and passed to Eric Tomlinson as he fell. Tomlinson pulled in the ball between two Panthers, but it was stripped and ruled a fumble recovery by Carolina. After review, the call was reversed and the play was ruled a Herbert incomplete pass.
On third-and-10 at the Carolina 29, Herbert passed to Johnston for a 29-yard touchdown. Cameron Dicker then missed an extra point for the first time in his career.
Chargers 6, Panthers 0, 9:20 left in the first quarter
And we’re off ...
The Chargers received the opening kickoff. Darius Davis returned the ball from the five-yard line. The Panthers were called for a face mask penalty and the Chargers started at their 33.
Chargers 0, Panthers 0, start of first quarter
Chargers newcomer Elijah Molden feels ready to start amid injuries in the secondary
With starting safety Alohi Gilman doubtful because of a knee injury, the Chargers’ Elijah Molden could have a larger role Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. It’s exactly the moment for which the fourth-year defensive back has been waiting.
“I feel like right now I’m playing my best football,” said Molden, who joined the Chargers in a trade 10 days before the season opener. “The coaching staff here and my teammates are really empowering me and making me feel confident, and in terms of how I feel, my body and my mind, I feel like this is the best I’ve felt since I’ve been in the NFL.”
The former Washington Huskies star is coming off a career-best 73 tackles with the Tennessee Titans. It was a successful return from a groin injury that limited him to two games in 2022 after being drafted in the third round in 2021.
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Jim Harbaugh’s long connection with quarterbacks a hit with Chargers’ Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert came in for a hug. Jim Harbaugh punched him in the chest. Over and over and over.
If the towering 6-foot-6 quarterback looked uncomfortable in the viral clip of Harbaugh’s pregame greeting that involves the Chargers coach hitting and punching his star quarterback, just know Herbert indeed was shocked.
“I could have watched the film on that,” he said with a half-smile after he acknowledged thinking Harbaugh’s routine was over as he walked away, only to get pounded on the back.
It was a rare disconnect between the Chargers’ franchise quarterback and their culture-setting coach, whose relationship will form the base of the team’s next era. The importance of the connection between a coach and quarterback can’t be overstated, Chargers quarterback coach Shane Day said, and like Herbert’s sturdy shoulder pads, this bond is strong.
It’s a complex world for Chargers rookies adjusting to life in the NFL and big city
Compared to the countryside of Chatsworth, Ga. — population of 4,871 — Los Angeles might as well be another planet for Chargers rookie Ladd McConkey. He is a Southern-twanged Martian adjusting to a new frontier in this sprawling metropolis.
“Chatsworth is a small town, and everybody knows everybody,” McConkey said. “Here, you have a lot more people, and I was not expecting everything to be on top of each other.”
A rural Georgian through and through, all he’s known is the Peach State. McConkey grew up in Chatsworth, two hours north of Atlanta. He played at North Murray High before spending four years in Athens at the University of Georgia.
McConkey visited L.A. when the Bulldogs capped back-to-back national championships at SoFi Stadium in 2022 against Texas Christian.
Jim Harbaugh’s reborn Chargers a fighting image of their new coach
The heat was blistering, the fans were jeering, the knockout punch was looming.
Late Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium, the stage was set for the continuation of a long-standing tradition fostered by a certain local team’s consistent meltdowns.
Except these Chargers didn’t “Charger.”
These Chargers “Harbaughed.”
These Chargers fought back when the Las Vegas Raiders pushed them around, these Chargers stood up when the Raiders knocked them down, these Chargers found their strength when their ancestors have typically lost their will.
Chargers at Panthers: How to watch, start time and prediction
It was the city in which Jim Harbaugh’s playing career officially ended. While he thought he could stretch his playing days at least two more years, when he didn’t appear in a single game for the Carolina Panthers as a 15-year quarterback in 2001, Harbaugh knew it was time to trade his helmet for a headset.
“This is the football gods explaining to me that we’re not going to play anymore,” Harbaugh said this week with a wide grin.
Returning to Charlotte, N.C., with the Chargers, Harbaugh has built an even better second career. He aced his return to the NFL last week while the Panthers, led by first-year head coach Dave Canales, flopped against the New Orleans Saints. Canales, who was the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year, lost 47-10 in his head coaching debut.
Jim Harbaugh gushes over talent of veteran Chargers: ‘I feel lucky to be here’
Jim Harbaugh made a beeline toward midfield, shook Raiders coach Antonio Pierce’s hand and turned right around toward the sideline. There was no extra pomp for Harbaugh’s first win as the Chargers’ coach. This circumstance called for him to duck straight into the locker room.
The Chargers’ 22-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, Harbaugh insisted, was not about him. Instead, it belonged to Derwin James Jr., Justin Herbert, Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack and the veteran Chargers whose own hard work was formerly overshadowed by the franchise’s forgettable results.
“They’ve been playing that way long before us newcomers arrived on the scene,” Harbaugh said Monday. “So I feel lucky to be here, to be able to be coaching these guys, as do the rest of the coaches on the staff. That’s the L.A. Chargers mentality.”