Andy Dalton's last NFL start came in Week 3 of the 2023 NFL season. Carolina Panthers Dalton, who replaced the injured Bryce Young, Seattle Seahawks That afternoon, the team completed 34 passes for 361 yards and two touchdowns but lost 37-27.
Dalton was once again in the Panthers' starting lineup Sunday, albeit under different circumstances, and he gave Carolina what it has lacked this season: production and winning at quarterback.
The veteran passer completed 26 of 37 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns as the Panthers earned their first win since Week 15 of the 2023 season. Las Vegas Raiders They won away with a final score of 36-22.
His performance is also notable because it came at the start of a season where the passing game has struggled.
If you placed your bets before the season began, congratulations!
Dalton and the Panthers capped off a nine-play, 70-yard drive to open the game with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Chuba Hubbard. On second-and-goal at the 6-yard line, Dalton retreated to the pocket and found Hubbard on a swinging screen to the right. From there, the running back picked up a block by Jonathan Mingo and raced past two Raiders defenders into the end zone.
But Dalton's other two touchdown passes came with much greater difficulty.
After the Raiders tied the score at 7-7, the Panthers drove down the field and eventually faced a third-and-goal situation at the Raiders' 5-yard line. Dalton faced pressure from Vegas pass rusher Tyree Wilson on the left edge, but slid to his right to avoid the pressure and score a touchdown with a precise pass to Dionta Johnson.
Not only did Dalton make a perfect pass over the head of cornerback Jack Jones, who was trailing Johnson in man coverage, but he also had to get it over the head of safety Trevon Moehrig, who was hiding over the head of running back Miles Sanders on that side of the field, giving Dalton depth on the play and another threat.
But the quarterback was able to use his arm to perfection.
But if you think the passes were good, Dalton's third touchdown pass, a 35-laser pass to Adam Thielen, might be the best pass of the week.
Carolina opens up the backfield with three receivers: Mingo on the right, David Moore on the outside, and Thielen up the middle. Mingo and Thielen run two vertical routes, with Mingo charging toward the middle of the field on a post route and Thielen running a vertical seam route.
With the Raiders in Cover 4 (one of the two-deep safety coverages that have caused game-time upsets in recent days), the pass from Mingo and Thielen works to corral safety Marcus Epps on that side of the field. That side's cornerback, Jones, helps Thielen after peeling off a short route from Moore, and Epps also breaks up the pass, but Dalton puts it perfectly in the shoebox.
He got into the end zone and couldn't have handed the ball to Thielen from a better position.
Outside of his three touchdown passes, Dalton also showed a willingness and comfort to attack the middle of the field. The veteran completed several passes to the middle of the field, including a dig route to Johnson that moved the chains on third down, but two of Young's three interceptions this season have come while attacking the middle of the field.
Dalton's performance will likely raise questions about how long he will remain in the Panthers' starting lineup, or whether he should remain there, ahead of an early game schedule on Sunday. ESPN Adam Schefter Reported Carolina's plans call for Young to remain the backup, and there's a “possibility” the team could bring him back in the future depending on how the next few weeks play out.
But there are two factors that could put Carolina in this situation. First, there are reports that several teams have inquired about trading for Young. For example, Miami DolphinsWith Tua Tagovailoa suffering a concussion in Week 2 and Skylar Thompson sidelined Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks with a chest injury, the Dolphins could be an ideal destination for Young.
Plus, Mike McDaniel could be one of the coaches who can bring out the best in Young despite the shaky start to his career.
What other factors could force Carolina into a corner in this situation?
If Dalton continues to play like this, he will give the Panthers a chance to win every week.
They haven't done that much in recent years.
Or maybe there's something special going on with Dalton in Week 3.
