CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Justin Herbert averaged more than 40 pass attempts per game over his first four years in the league. He's attempted just 46 total in his first two games under new coach Jim Harbaugh.
And that's just fine with the Los Angeles Chargers star quarterback.
The Chargers are off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2012, largely because of a balanced offensive attack led by the one-two punch of running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, a solid offensive line and a defense that is playing lights-out.
Dobbins ran for 131 yards on Sunday, including a 43-yard touchdown, and Herbert showed he can still make plays when he needs to, connecting on two touchdown passes with Quentin Johnston as the Chargers passed their first road test with a 26-3 drubbing of the woeful Carolina Panthers 26-3.
“It's super helpful going out there just knowing that you can go out there and hand the ball to J.K. and Gus knowing they are going to go fight for every yard,” Herbert said. “It's a great offensive line that battles play in and play out. So now when we take out shots in the passing game it's only going to help us.”
The Chargers methodically wore down the Panthers, piling up 219 yards on the ground while holding Carolina to just 159 total yards and seven first downs.
Second-year quarterback Bryce Young had another miserable game, finishing 18 of 26 passing for 84 yards with one interception and was booed repeatedly by the home crowd while falling to 2-16 as a starter.
The Panthers have been outscored 73-13 this season, but coach Dave Canales said Young will remain his quarterback.
The Panthers, who fell behind 30-0 in the second quarter last week against New Orleans, trailed 20-0 at halftime after being outgained 204-54 before the break. The crowd let out a sarcastic cheer when Chuba Hubbard ran for the Panthers' initial first down more than 25 minutes into the game.
“We were just trying to find some rhythm and we really never found it,” Canales said. “Again, another frustrating day for the whole group. My message to the team was really valuing how they attacked the work.”
The Chargers defense has allowed just 13 points through two games.
Los Angeles took a 6-0 lead on the game's opening possession when Herbert connected on a perfectly placed 29-yard touchdown pass to Johnston, who beat one-on-one coverage by Jaycee Horn.
“He put the ball on a dime and I think he reminded everybody that he is one of the best quarterbacks in the National Football League,” Harbaugh said. “We will lean on both the pass and the run. It's whatever works, and whatever we think can work.”
Cameron Dicker missed the extra point, snapping a streak of 60 straight made kicks to begin his career.
Horn got even on the next series when he intercepted Herbert at the Chargers 41, but Young rolled out to the left and inexplicably took a sack on third down to take the Panthers out of field-goal range.
It was all downhill from there for Carolina (0-2).
Herbert connected again with Johnston for a 5-yard TD pass on a blown coverage by Carolina's defense.
Dobbins then made it 20-0 when he cut outside, broke a tackle by Xavier Woods, tiptoed down the left sideline and somersaulted into the end zone for his second TD of the season. He became the first NFL player since Jamal Lewis in 2003 with three runs of at least 43 yards the first two weeks of the season.
Herbert finished 14 of 20 for 130 yards and Johnson had five catches for 51 yards.
“My job as a quarterback is to be a point guard, to get them the ball and get us in the right looks,” Herbert said.
At times, it appeared the Panthers were playing not to let the score get more out of hand, twice running the football in the final minutes of the third quarter while down by 20 — much to the chagrin of the home crowed, the majority of which left before the fourth quarter.
Carolina didn't throw the ball down the field.
“I trust Coach’s game plan," Young said of the team's offensive game plan. “We’ve just got to do a better job of executing. I’ve got all the faith in the world in the coach. In the end, it all starts with me. I have to do a better job of executing.”
As for getting booed, Young said he appreciates the fan base's passion.
But two weeks into the season — and coming off a 2-15 season a year ago — the frustration appears to be setting in in Carolina. At one point Adam Thielen was seen screaming into the air on the sideline while Diontae Johnson was in Young's ear.
“Obviously it’s frustrating,” Young said. “At the end of the day on the sideline, I was trying to get it right — for the next series and for the future for whatever it is. I want to be constructive and make sure we’re communicating. Just wanting to talk through things. We have emotions. We’re all competitors.”
The Chargers will remain in Charlotte this week to practice before heading to Pittsburgh for next week's game. Harbaugh will practice at UNC Charlotte, where Biff Poggi, his former assistant and associate head coach at Michigan, is now the 49ers head coach.
Harbaugh said the reason he stayed on the East Coast was so players could “get their body clocks right.”
Chargers: At Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
Panthers: At Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
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