2024-09-23 19:20:03
LAS VEGAS (WBTV) – The Carolina Panthers scored the most points since Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season as Andy Dalton was brilliant in their win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
With the veteran quarterback behind center replacing former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young after being benched after the first two games.
Dalton led the offense to the most total yards and points against the Raiders than they had in the first two games of the season combined.
First Half:
Dalton was brilliant on the opening drive of the game going 5-for-6 and finding running back Chuba Hubbard out of the backfield for a 6-yard touchdown.
It was the Panthers first opening drive touchdown in 20 weeks, tied for the longest streak in the NFL.
On the Panthers third offensive drive of the game, Dalton once again looked good going 4-for-4 on that drive.
The veteran quarterback converted a huge 3rd and 14 finding Diontae Johnson for a 23-yard reception for the first down.
Two plays later Dalton threaded the needle to rookie first rounder Xavier Legette for 35 yards and putting Carolina in the redzone on the 10-yard line.
That huge play to Legette would set up a 5-yard touchdown to Johnson to give the Panthers a 14-7 lead.
The Panthers and Dalton weren’t done yet in the first half offensively with less than a minute to go he found Johnson again on third and eight for 35 yards.
That play set up an absolute dot to Adam Thielen for a 31-yard touchdown. To give the Panthers a 21-7 lead heading into the half.
The Panthers scored on three of their six drives in the first half. Dalton completed 15 passes for 212 yards passing with three touchdowns.
In the first half the Panthers were 5-for-8 on third downs and picked up 13 first downs.
The Panthers totaled 256 yards of total offense in the first half more than Carolina had total in the first two games of the season.
Second Half:
Carolina added on to their lead with their first drive of the second half with a 43-yard field goal from Eddie Pineiro to make it 24-7.
Johnson would go over 100 yards receiving in the third quarter, as he picked up his sixth catch of the game for 10 yards to help lead to another Pineiro field goal to make it 27-7.
The former Steeler receiver had a total of 34 yards receiving in the Panthers first two games.
With Carolina leading 27-7 heading to the 4th quarter it would be their first lead heading to 4h quarter since Week 17 of the 2022 season.
Carolina did not score a single point last season in the fourth.
Running back Miles Sanders would change that early in the 4th quarter has he punched it in from a yard out to make it 33-7.
Panthers continued to add to their lead with the leg of Pineiro as he connected for his third in the second half, this time a 26-yarder to extend the lead to 36-15.
Hubbard finished with 114 yards rushing and 55 yards receiving and a touchdown.
Johnson finished his day with 122 yards on eight catches and a touchdown.
Dalton would be the first quarterback on the season to throw for 300 yards and three touchdowns this season.
Canales and his offense ran 68 total plays for 24 first downs and 439 yards of total offense.
In the first two games combined against the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Chargers the Panthers ran a total of 101 plays for 352 yards of total offense.
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