The Carolina Panthers got run over by the Los Angeles Rams in their season opener on Sunday. LA’s top two running backs Todd Gurley and Malcolm Brown went off for a combined 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns, averaging six yards per carry between them.
While the run defense was definitely a disappointment, the Panthers did a much better job stopping Jared Goff and LA’s passing game.
According to NFL Matchup on ESPN, Carolina allowed the sixth-lowest passer rating in the league Week 1.
Cornerback James Bradberry and linebacker Shaq Thompson in particular stood out in coverage.
That being said, Goff himself was a major reason why his passer rating was so low. As he’s been known to do, he missed several open throws. If Goff had brought his A-game, this loss probably would have been much worse than just three points. Goff finished 23/39 for just 186 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
