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Carolina Panthers 2020 Schedule: Five easiest games

By Christian Candeloro

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: Head coach Ron Rivera of the Washington Redskins interviews during the second day of the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: Head coach Ron Rivera of the Washington Redskins interviews during the second day of the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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No. 4: Week 3, at Los Angeles Chargers — 4:05 p.m. on CBS

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 08: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Los Angeles Chargers warms up prior to the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on December 08, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 08: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Los Angeles Chargers warms up prior to the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on December 08, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

The Los Angeles Chargers entered 2019 with very high expectations following a deep playoff run and stacked with talent on both sides of the ball. But the season was not kind to them, with quarterback Phillip Rivers throwing 20 interceptions and playing the worst football of his career. Rivers is gone, replaced by either journeyman Tyrod Taylor or rookie Justin Herbert. In the Panthers’ case, it’s likely good they play the Chargers early in the season.

The Chargers had a real chance to compete with Kansas City if they knocked the draft out of the park, instead, they have a developmental quarterback that may or may not start the season as the team’s starting signal-caller. The team doesn’t overly scare me and this could be a winnable game if Herbert is playing and still trying to find his way.

Another factor contributing to the relative ease of this match-up is the lack of fans the Chargers draw to the stadium. Last season the Chargers struggled to fill the 30,000 seat Stubhub Center and now will attempt to pack in the 70,000 seat new SoFi Stadium. I would be more worried if it were the Chargers home opener, as the novelty of the new stadium might be enough to draw some fans. This, however, will be the second home game of the season and it will feel like there are more Panthers’ fans than Chargers’ fans in attendance. Give me that all day long over traveling to Green Bay or Kansas City.

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