National Football League

Panthers struggling run defense looks to shut down Gordon

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:10 p.m. ET

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SAN DIEGO (5-7) at CAROLINA (4-8)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

OPENING LINE - Panthers by 1 1/2

RECORD VS. SPREAD - San Diego 7-5, Carolina 3-8-1

SERIES RECORD -Panthers lead 4-1

LAST MEETING -Panthers beat Chargers 31-10, Dec. 16, 2012

LAST WEEK - Chargers lost to Buccaneers 28-21; Panthers lost to Seahawks 50-7

AP PRO32 RANKING - Chargers No. 22, Panthers No. 26

CHARGERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (10), RUSH (21), PASS (6).

CHARGERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (19), RUSH (3), PASS (27).

PANTHERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (18), RUSH (13), PASS (20).

PANTHERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (t-23), RUSH (8), PASS (30).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Chargers coach Mike McCoy spent eight seasons as assistant coach in Carolina. ... QB Phillip Rivers attended North Carolina State. ... Rivers had four TD passes and zero interceptions in previous two meetings with Panthers. ... Rivers is tied for fourth in league with 25 TD passes. ... RB Melvin Gordon had 138 yards from scrimmage yards last week vs. Tampa Bay. ... WR Tyrell Williams has caught TD pass in four straight games. ... WR Dontrelle Inman is averaging 84 yards receiving and has two TD catches in last two games. ... TE Antonio Gates has 109 career TD catches, second most by a tight end in NFL history to Tony Gonzalez. ... TE Hunter Henry is tied for third among rookies with five TD catches. ... CB Casey Hayward has four interceptions in past five games and leads NFL with seven INTs. ... Rookie DE Joey Bosa has 5 + sacks and nine tackles for loss in past eight games. ... Panthers have lost five games by three points or less. ... Panthers are 3-3 at home after going 10-0 (including playoffs) last season. ... QB Cam Newton has only 14 TD passes in 11 games after throwing 35 TD passes last season. ... Newton passed for 231 yards and two TDs in only meeting with San Diego in 2012. ... Panthers starting fourth-string C Tyler Larsen due to injuries. ... RB Jonathan Stewart has seven TDs rushing in last seven games, but faces league's third-best run defense. ... FB Mike Tolbert had two TDs rushing in last meeting with his former team. .. WR Ted Ginn Jr has TD catch in three straight games. ... WR Kelvin Benjamin has five TD catches in seven career games vs. AFC. ... Since 2013, Greg Olsen leads all NFL tight ends in receptions (295) and yards receiving (3,748). ... Panthers have allowed 22 TDs passing. ... DE Kony Ealy has sack in three of last four games. ... 2013 NFL Defensive Player of Year LB Luke Kuechly has missed last two games with concussion. ... LB Thomas Davis has two interceptions in past three games vs. AFC foes. Since 2013, Davis is only NFL linebacker with 400-plus tackles, 14-plus sacks and at least nine interceptions. ... CB Daryl Worley leads all rookie cornerbacks with 66 tackles. Fantasy Tip: Panthers allowed Seahawks to run for 240 yards and three touchdowns last week.

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