The Carolina Panthers claimed their first victory of the season in a shocking upset against Las Vegas Raiders (36-22), thanks to a standout performance by backup quarterback Andy Dalton.
After Bryce Young was benched due to early struggles, Dalton completed 319 passing yards (26-37) and threw three touchdowns, lifting the Panthers to a much-needed win. Dalton’s efficient play revived an offense that had struggled under Young, who had a 0-2 start.
Everything’s coming up @Panthers right now
📺: #CARvsLV on CBS/Paramount
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/nYyeTJpFr0— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
The Panthers’ defense played a crucial role, forcing key turnovers and putting constant pressure on Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew, who was sacked multiple times. Eddy Pineiro kicked two field goals, while Miles Sanders added a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, pushing the Panthers’ lead to 33-7 before the Raiders added a late score.
The Panthers’ solid ground game, led by Chuba Hubbard and Sanders, combined with Dalton’s precision passing, helped secure their first win, moving them to 1-2 for the season.
Tied after 1 pic.twitter.com/iHEI1mCDj1
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 22, 2024
This victory comes after mounting pressure on the Panthers’ coaching staff to address the team’s poor start, with Young struggling in his first two NFL games. Dalton’s strong performance could raise questions about the team’s quarterback strategy moving forward, but for now, the Panthers can enjoy a morale-boosting victory ahead of their next challenge.
The Panthers will now take on the Cincinnati Bengals this coming Sunday afternoon at 1pm in the Bank of America Stadium (tickets are now available here).
