From stars to fringe players, Panthers defense sets tone for

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Carolina’s quietest defensive lineman and a Panthers backup were first in line to cash in the checks the line wrote this preseason.,womens Mike Iupati Jersey,

Defensive tackle Star Lotulelei and defensive end Wes Horton set the tone of the Panthers’ 23-3 victory against the San Francisco 49ers.womens Phil Dawson Jersey,

a fringe player in 2016, and on his very first snap he strip-sacked 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer. Lotulelei, came in in the first quarter to spell starting rusher Mario Addison,Horton,womens Carson Palmer Jersey,recovered it at the San Francisco 42.,womens Tyrann Mathieu Jersey, the line’s silent space-eating anchor

that’s a good matchup,womens Justin Bethel Jersey, and just to have a guard in space against a defensive end,” Horton said. “I was able to make a quick move on him. ... Hoyer was right there,“I was slanting into the B-gap,Authentic Matt Wile Jersey, didn’t even see me.”

The play gave Horton a strip sack in four consecutive games, ,Authentic Evan Boehm Jersey,dating to the 2016 season.

” coach Ron Rivera said. “He’s been solid for us. (There are) those guys that are just kind of on the edge, and that’s why he’s starting off on the roster, but he’s just been so steady for us. That’s why we brought him back last year,“It just shows that he’s more than capable as a football player, and deservedly so, just because of who he is for us.” .

Lotulelei had already shed his block and scooped up the ball. The defensive tackle also made a fourth-down stop late in the second quarter that gave Carolina the ball back at its 45. Authentic Mike Iupati Jersey,

and that’s when you’re a space-eater,” said Rivera. “Probably one of the things we talked about was how the tackles had to play. And Star does this thing that people don’t quite understand,“There were some really good things up front,Authentic Carson Palmer Jersey, your linebackers get to run.

“That’s probably the most important thing. Thomas (Davis) was able to run. Luke (Kuechly) was able to run. Shaq (Thompson) was able to run.”,Authentic Tyrann Mathieu Jersey,

an interception for 23 yardstwo sacks for 15And they ran wild. The three linebackers combined for 16 tacklesAuthentic Justin Bethel Jersey, three quarterback hurries and a pass defensed.

Thompson recorded a sack in the first quarter and was key on an early play in which he tracked speedy back Matt Breida on a long counter, Authentic Andy Lee Jersey, matched the back step-for-step and then pushed him out of bounds.

and while the Panthers turned the ball over twice Authentic Antoine Bethea Jersey,Kuechly showed his athleticism with a twisting one-handed interception in the third quarter that he returned for 23 yards to set up a Panthers’ touchdown. (Carolina scored 14 points off of San Francisco turnovers, but those turnovers didn’t lead to points).

And Davis certainly didn’t look like a 34-year-old linebacker.Authentic Phil Dawson Jersey,' He made two of Carolina’s fourth down stops – the first of which was a sack on Hoyer for an 8-yard loss in the second quarter.

the offense lined up in a sneaky formation that favored a stack on the right side. Davis shifted accordingly,,womens Antoine Bethea Jersey, only a yard away from a touchdown,The second was on the heels of Davis’ own third-and-goal stop on physical 49ers running back Carlos Hyde. As San Francisco elected to go for the score on fourth and goal and was able to bring down Hyde again and prevent the touchdown.

San Francisco went for the conversion on fourth down four times throughout the game, and only got it once.,womens Andy Lee Jersey,'

because we understand how big of a momentum shift it is when you’re able to do that to a football team,womens Evan Boehm Jersey,“We take a lot of pride in that,” said Davis. “We did a good job of executing defensively and really kept them off balance.”