The Carolina Panthers celebrated a remarkable performance, scoring their highest points since Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season, thanks to quarterback Andy Dalton in their victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Dalton took over as the starting quarterback, stepping in for Bryce Young, who was benched after the first two games of the season. He guided the team to a performance that yielded more total yards and points against the Raiders than the Panthers had in their first two games combined.
In the first half, Dalton showcased his skills on the opening drive, completing five of six passes and connecting with running back Chuba Hubbard for a 6-yard touchdown. This marked the Panthers’ first opening drive touchdown in 20 weeks, setting a record for the longest such streak in the NFL.
On their third offensive drive, Dalton again excelled, completing four consecutive passes, including a critical 23-yard reception to Diontae Johnson on a 3rd and 14 situation. Two plays later, Dalton threw a precise 35-yard pass to rookie Xavier Legette, setting the Panthers up in the red zone. This led to a 5-yard touchdown reception by Johnson, extending their lead to 14-7.
With just under a minute left in the first half, Dalton connected with Johnson again for a 35-yard gain on a third down, which paved the way for a stunning 31-yard touchdown pass to Adam Thielen, giving the Panthers a 21-7 halftime lead. Dalton completed 15 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, while the team converted 5 of 8 third-down attempts and amassed 256 total yards of offense—more than they had in the first two games combined.
In the second half, the Panthers increased their lead with a 43-yard field goal from Eddie Pineiro, making it 24-7. Johnson eclipsed 100 yards receiving in the third quarter and helped set up another field goal, extending the score to 27-7. This marked the Panthers’ first lead heading into the fourth quarter since Week 17 of the previous season.
Early in the fourth quarter, running back Miles Sanders scored a touchdown, increasing the lead to 33-7. Pineiro added a third field goal in the second half, making it a 36-15 final score.
Hubbard wrapped up the game with 114 rushing yards and 55 receiving yards, along with a touchdown. Johnson finished with 122 yards on eight receptions and a touchdown, while Dalton became the first quarterback of the season to throw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns. The Panthers’ offense executed 68 plays for 439 total yards, a stark contrast to their combined 352 yards in the first two games.