By Joseph Person, Vic Tafur, Tashan Reed and Mark Puleo
NFL Week 3 live updates: Inactives, schedule, kickoff times, matchups, odds and predictions
In Andy Dalton’s second start since 2022, the 36-year-old veteran awoke a dormant Carolina Panthers offense on Sunday by becoming the first quarterback to pass for 300 yards and three touchdowns in a game this season, leading Carolina to a 36-22 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Andrew. Gregory. Dalton. pic.twitter.com/HIq136pN46
— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
Dalton was named the starter Monday after Carolina coach Dave Canales pulled the plug on Bryce Young’s ruinous reign just 18 starts after Young was selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Dalton needed just two quarters to prove that was the right call, becoming the first Panthers passer to toss for three touchdowns in a half since Cam Newton in 2015.
The Carolina offense continued humming under Dalton’s gunslinging through the second half, as the Panthers took a lead into the fourth quarter for the first time since Jan. 1, 2023. Unlike that day, when then-Carolina starter Sam Darnold was upended by the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dalton kept his foot on the gas as the Panthers continued cruising and turned the fate of their 2024 season around.
Dalton’s deep game was cooking
From the opening possession when he completed 5 of 6 passes during a 70-yard touchdown drive, Dalton made it look easy. He was on target on the short passes — but also the downfield throws that had been missing under Young.
Dalton had three completions of 30 yards or longer as he improved to 4-0 in four career starts against the Raiders. The only hiccup in the passing game? Adam Thielen hurt his hamstring on a terrific TD catch near the end of the half and didn’t play in the second half. — Joseph Person, Panthers beat writer
So what comes next?
While there have been reports suggesting the Panthers plan to start Young again, there’s no way Canales will go back to him after Sunday’s performance. While Young looked on, Dalton fired up the entire team with the way he played with precision and enthusiasm. Dalton, Chuba Hubbard and Diontae Johnson became the Panthers’ first trio to reach 300 yards passing, 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving since 2022. And a better-rested defense kept Gardner Minshew, Davante Adams and Brock Bowers in check. — Person
Raiders offense fell apart
The Raiders felt their offense turned a corner in their comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens last week, but the unit’s embarrassing performance in the loss to the Panthers proves that’s not the case. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy was consistently predictable, Minshew was frequently off target, the offensive line was bullied, Adams had some uncharacteristic drops and the running game remained a complete non-threat.
The Panthers defense had allowed an average of 36.5 points per game through two weeks, but the Raiders had mustered just seven points by the start of the fourth quarter. — Tashan Reed, Raiders beat writer
Does Las Vegas offense need change?
It’s not like the Raiders’ offense is devoid of talent. Adams, Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker make up a strong receiver trio. Bowers has flashed dynamic receiving talent, and fellow tight end Michael Mayer is a threat in his own right. And while he’s been held in check this season, running back Zamir White has shown in the past that he’s capable of having a big game.
Despite that, the offense remains less than the sum of its parts. Without progress in short order, it’ll be soon be time for some significant changes on that side of the ball. — Reed
Where does this rank among worst Raiders losses?
The Raiders had one of their best practices of the year on Thursday, coach Antonio Pierce had said, so surely they wouldn’t lay their annual (bi-annual?) egg on Sunday against the winless Panthers … right?
Well, it may have been overconfidence or just the sheer, dormant brilliance of Dalton and Hubbard, but the Raiders were embarrassed in their home opener.
It won’t rank up there with giving Indianapolis Colts interim coach Jeff Saturday the only win of his life last year, but … it might rival the Thursday night debacle against the Rams in 2022, or the Fitzmagic loss to the Dolphins in the final 19 seconds in 2020.
It’s an embarrassing loss, given the that Raiders were coming off a win in Baltimore and the home fans delivered after Pierce asked them to wear black, be loud and give the team a real home edge. It was the smallest amount of opposing fans since COVID left Allegiant Stadium fan-less in its first season.
A week after scheming well to slow down Lamar Jackson, the middle of the field was wide open and the Raiders also couldn’t slow down the Panthers’ ground game. Hubbard went for 114 yards rushing, 55 receiving and a touchdown, while Johnson had 122 yards receiving and would have cracked 200 if the game was still close midway through the third quarter.
The Raiders will try to get back on track against the Browns, but at least for this week, ‘Same Ol’ Raiders’ still applies. — Vic Tafur, Raiders beat writer
(Photo: Ian Maule / Getty Images)
