PANTHERS DEFENSE – OVERALL (15), RUSH (21), PASS (12)

AP PRO32 RANKING – Chargers No. 21; Panthers No. 25

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CHARGERS DEFENSE – OVERALL (9), RUSH (4),jeremy scott adidas shop, PASS (22)

SERIES RECORD – Panthers lead 3-1

OPENING LINE – Chargers by 3

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Second-year Carolina coach Ron Rivera faces former employer. Was inside linebackers coach from 2007 until being promoted to defensive coordinator after Ted Cottrell fired following eighth game of 2008 season. … Scott Turner, son of Chargers coach Norv Turner, is Carolina’s offensive quality control coach. … Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski followed Rivera from San Diego to Carolina; was Chargers’ tight ends coach from 2005-06, 2009-10. … Teams “switched” defensive backs coaches before season, with Steven Wilks going from Chargers to Panthers and Ron Meeks from Panthers to Chargers. … Former Chargers assistant GM Marty Hurney fired as Carolina’s GM after 1-5 start. … Norv Turner 112-121-1 overall in head coaching stints with Washington, Oakland, San Diego. … Panthers looking for first back-to-back wins since last December. … Panthers LB Luke Kuechly making strong push for defensive rookie of year by leading NFL with 131 tackles. … Panthers held Falcons to 35 yards rushing. … Panthers QB Cam Newton coming off huge game vs. Falcons,jeremy scott wings online shop, completing 23 of 35 passes for 287 yards with two touchdowns; ran for 116 yards. Completed 72-yard scoring run with somersault into end zone before getting to feet, pretending to rip open shirt like Superman. … By comparison, Chargers RB Ryan Mathews has no 100-yard games this season. His best was 95 yards in loss at Cleveland. … Newton leads Panthers with 640 yards rushing; Mathews leads Chargers with 685 yards. … Newton became first in NFL history with 250-plus yards passing, 100-plus yards rushing,jeremy scott wings moto pants, a passing TD and a rushing TD in game. … Dante Rosario, now backup TE for Chargers, caught game-winning, 14-yard TD pass from Jake Delhomme as time expired to lift Panthers to win at San Diego in 2008 season-opener. Rosario has five receptions since three-TD performance in win vs. Tennessee Sept. 16. … Chargers TE Antonio Gates hasn’t caught TD pass in four games, leaving him one shy of matching Lance Alworth’s team record 81. … Chargers WR Robert Meachem, signed as free agent to help replace Vincent Jackson, hasn’t been thrown a pass in three straight games. Meachem fell out of favor after dropping potential TD pass in 7-6 loss at Cleveland on Oct. 28. … Chargers expecting third straight TV blackout in Southern California and fourth this season.

LAST MEETING – Panthers beat Chargers 26-24, Sept. 7, 2008

CHARGERS OFFENSE – OVERALL (27), RUSH (27), PASS (19)

CAROLINA (4-9) At SAN DIEGO (5-8)

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PANTHERS OFFENSE – OVERALL (16), RUSH (11T), PASS (17)

LAST WEEK – Panthers beat Falcons 30-20; Chargers beat Steelers 34-24

RECORD VS. SPREAD – Carolina 6-7; San Diego 6-7

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