The Mad Russian
(265) Los Angeles Chargers at (266) Carolina Panthers
(265) Los Angeles Chargers at (266) Carolina Panthers
4% Los Angeles Chargers -4.5 (-112)
The Chargers’ core strength lies in their ground game and play-action strategy, which enhances their away performance. Last week, they amassed 176 rushing yards against Vegas, with Dobbins contributing 135, and limited their opponents to just 71 rushing yards defensively. While their pass defense requires improvement, they will likely replicate this approach against Carolina, who conceded 180 rushing yards to the Saints and has now lost their premier interior defensive lineman, Derrick Brown, for the season.
Carolina is also facing injury concerns, with Clowney, Jewell, and both starting guards questionable, but all will play. Their offensive line appears subpar, and with DC Jesse Minter likely to implement aggressive blitz packages, Bosa and Mack are poised to have a field day. Bryce Young’s performance last week was dismal, registering a passer rating of 32.8; his rating would have been 7 points higher if he would have chucked all 30 attempts in the stands.