Week 1 @ San Diego 
Week 1 vs. the San Diego Chargers should prove a difficult task for the Panthers. This will be Jake Delhomme’s first game back since Tommy John Surgery and although his arm feels better than ever, he might be a little rusty. He might face trouble early on facing the Chargers great secondary, but with a new improved receiving core, he should find his rhythm by half time. Rookie Jonathan Stewart will be the first to touch the ball for the Panthers taking the kickoff back to the 30 yard line breaking a tackle and falling forward for a nice start to the season. Stewart will take his first carry of his career for a gain probably running the ball up the middle beginning to wear down the Chargers defense. Steve Smith will line up against Quentin Jammer and will probably create trouble for him. Smith will get double-teamed from the Chargers, but it will probably come from rookie Antoine Cason. Smith will take advantage of Cason’s inexperience and catch a touchdown early on. The Panthers will take a lead early on. After a nice first drive the score is 7 – 0, with around 10:00 left in the first quarter.
The Chargers will quickly return with a touchdown though. After a good Darren Sprolles return from Darren Sprolles, the Chargers march down the field with runs down the throat of the Panthers weak D-Line picking. After LT carries the Chargers to the goal line, the Panthers look like they have a goal line stop set up. It is 3rd and goal when the Chargers fool the Panther’s defense with a play action pass to TE Antonio Gates.
The Charger’s defense stops the rusty Panther’s offense at mid-field and they take to ball at the 20 yd. line. After a long pass to Receiver Chris Chambers, Ladainian Tomlinson runs in a lengthy dash to the end zone and the Chargers have the lead at 14 – 7 with little time left in the first half.
Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad go down the field with receptions back and forth setting the Panther’s up for a 30 yd. field goal shortly before half-time. Fans are reminded of the good old days when this combination of Jake to Moose, Jake to Steve, etc. was a regular site. John Kasay kicks the chip shot in and the Panthers go into half-time with a score.
14 – 10
Early in the half, the Chargers take advantage of the 5 in. height difference between Vincent Jackson and Ken Lucas. Phillip Rivers connects with Jackson for a long pass to midfield. The quickster, Darren Sprolles, takes a carry outside and Chris Harris comes up and lays him out. The ball falls to the turf and Julius Peppers takes the ball to the house as San Diego falls quiet. 17 – 14
Young Phillip Rivers doesn’t mind the small deficit. He looks like an experienced quarterback at home . He drops back and drops off a screen to the elusive Tomlinson. He breaks up the field for a first down. The Chargers are rolling and charge down the field. They take their time with runs up the middle with LT and short out passes to Jackson and Chambers and even the young, quick Nanee(Boise State reciever who caught famous hook and ladder play vs. Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, 2007). Charles Johnson doesn’t quit and comes through with his first sack of the season on a 3rd down for the Chargers. Its is 4th down and 3 yards for SD. Norv Turner’s team has the all on 37 yd line. This is out of range for San Diego Kicker, Nate Kaeding. The young FB, Jacob Hester, leads LT down the Panthers gut, first down. The ball is on the Panthers 30 as the quarter comes to a close.
Rivers leads them to the endzone ending with a QB sneak from the 2 yd. line. Jake Delhomme’s team is down by 4 points late in the game. He’s looking to grab an upset win vs. the Chargers and it looks like he will. The Panthers are rolling down the field. The Chargers defense is tired and Deangelo Williams is running all over them. Moose catches a first down pass at the 9 yard line and there is about 5 minutes to go. Delhomme drops back. Moose is running a fade to the left corner when Antonio Cromartie snags the ball and downs it in the endzone for a touchback. San Diego hangs on to win 21 – 17.
