CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ Even when it looks like it's going to be easy, it's not easy for the Carolina Panthers in 2016.
That proved true again Sunday, when the Panthers allowed a 23-point lead late in the second quarter to be trimmed to 10 before holding on to beat the San Diego Chargers 28-16 at Bank of America Stadium.
The Panthers (5-8) led 23-0 before the Chargers (5-8) rallied.
When Philip Rivers completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Inman with 30 seconds to play in the third quarter, the lead was down to 26-16. And the Chargers had scored on three consecutive possessions.
After a three-and-out for Carolina gave the ball back to the Chargers, Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson stepped in front of a pass intended for Antonio Gates.
It looked like the Panthers would go in for a clinching score, with first and goal at the 4, but Trovon Reed stepped in front of a Cam Newton pass to Kelvin Benjamin at the goal line and intercepted.
He returned the ball for a touchdown, but that was overturned on replay, and the Chargers were 97 yards away and down 10 with 10:58 to play.
Mario Addison's sack of Rivers for a safety made it 28-16.
"If we could have scored some touchdowns instead of field goals, it would have been a different type of fourth quarter," Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. "It would have helped to get some touchdowns instead of field goals."
The Chargers couldn't get any closer, with the Panthers clinching the game on an interception by Kurt Coleman.
The Panthers forced five San Diego turnovers and sacked Rivers five times, with two of them resulting in fumbles recovered by Carolina.
Newton finished 10 of 27 for 160 yards and a touchdown, and ran eight times for 31 yards.
"Not to rain on the win, but we have to put up points, put up touchdowns," Newton said. "If we do that, that game's out of hand."
