Tag: Andy Dalton

Andy Dalton’s sensational first game as Panthers starting QB had NFL fans roasting Bryce Young

Maybe Bryce Young really was the problem …

When the Panthers decided to bench 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, it signaled that the team was essentially giving up on the player they traded up to draft (at a high cost) — along with giving up on the season. Well, Andy Dalton had other ideas.

Dalton took over on Sunday as Panthers starting quarterback against the Raiders. And just like that, Dalton had the Panthers absolutely cooking on offense. He eclipsed 300 yards, threw three touchdown passes and had the Panthers on the verge of a blowout win.

And sure, nobody expects the Panthers to suddenly turn into a playoff contender. But the drastic flip in performance showed just how bad Young truly had been in his second NFL season.

Like, Young was never completing this pass:

It was just one game, but Dalton’s performance was more than enough to have fans piling on Young. Dalton was out there showing him how it was supposed to be done.

This was how Twitter/X reacted

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Andy Dalton strafing Raiders defense for Panthers

Andy Dalton has the Panthers rolling in Las Vegas

For the first 30 minutes on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium, the move to Andy Dalton from Bryce Young was working for the Carolina Panthers.

The veteran quarterback threw three touchdown passes before halftime to give the downtrodden Panthers a 21-7 lead over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Dalton was given the starting job when Young was ineffective as a rookie and in his first two games of 2024.

Dalton hit three different receivers for the scores.

Panthers fans react to Andy Dalton’s incredible 3-TD half vs. Raiders

Panthers fans are loving their new-look offense under Andy Dalton so far.

Yeah, this is happening, Carolina Panthers.

Sunday marked the first start of the 2024 season for quarterback Andy Dalton, who has replaced the struggling Bryce Young through just two games. And the 14th-year veteran took full advantage of his first full half in the role—completing 15 of his 22 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns.

Dalton found three different pass catchers for the scores—running back Chuba Hubbard and wide receivers Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen. The last one, a beautiful 31-yard connection for some “Dad Ball,” helped give Carolina a 21-7 lead at the break over the host Las Vegas Raiders.

Here’s how Panthers fans are reacting to the pleasantly shocking first half . . .

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Panthers score TD on Andy Dalton’s very 1st drive of 2024 season

The Red Rifle fired the opening shot for the Panthers on Sunday.

Is . . . is that what an actual offense looks like?

Whether or not it’s a temporary one, the Carolina Panthers’ detour from struggling second-year quarterback Bryce Young began with a bang. And it was the 14th-year veteran and new starter Andy Dalton who fired the shot—leading the offense on an eight-play, 70-yard scoring drive to open their Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Dalton completed five of his six attempts on the possession for 56 yards and a score. The 36-year-old connected with four different pass catchers—wide receivers Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson, tight end Tommy Tremble and running back Chuba Hubbard.

The connection with Hubbard, a 6-yard reception, capped off the touch for Carolina’s first passing touchdown of the 2024 campaign.

http://twitter.com/Panthers/status/1837948801157366127

Hubbard, in addition, rushed for 18 yards on three carries.

His score also accounted for the first opening-drive touchdown for the Panthers in 21 games, which would’ve continued to stand as the longest active streak in the NFL.

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Raiders vs. Panthers: How to watch, listen and stream Week 3 game

How to watch, listen and stream Raiders Week 3 home opener against the Panthers

After opening the season with consecutive road games, the Raiders finally will have their home opener in Week three. They welcome the winless Carolina Panthers and their newly named starting QB Andy Dalton.

Here is all the info you need to catch it.

Game information

Week 3: Carolina Panthers (0-2) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (1-1)

Date/Time: Sunday, Sept. 22, 1:05 pm Pacific (4:05 pm ET)

Where: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV

How to watch

The game will be broadcast by CBS and will air in the orange areas of the map via 506sports.com:

CBS Broadcast team: Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Adam Archuleta (analyst) and Aditi Kinkhabwala (sideline)

How to stream

If you are located in the orange areas of the map, you can stream the game using FuboTV (try it free).

If you are not located in the orange areas of the map, you can stream the game using NFL Sunday Ticket via YouTube and YouTube TV.

How to listen

Raiders radio: Las Vegas on KOMP 92.3FM, 920AM or see their regional affiliate stations.

Broadcast team: Jason Horowitz (play-by-play), Lincoln Kennedy (analyst).

Charlotte NC: WRFX 99.7 FM The Fox as well as their regional affiliate stations.

Broadcast team: Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Luke Kuechly (analyst), Jim Szoke (analyst) and Sharon Thorsland (sideline) are on the call.

Panthers coverage: Panthers Wire

Report: Several teams have expressed interest in trading for Panthers QB Bryce Young

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Panthers QB Bryce Young has already drawn trade interest from several teams.

Whether or not the Carolina Panthers are actually interested moving on from him, the recently-benched Bryce Young seemingly has himself a trade market.

According to ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter, “several teams” have already expressed interest in acquiring the struggling second-year quarterback. Schefter reported the following on Saturday night:

The Panthers have been contacted by certain teams, according to league sources, while other teams have mulled a Young trade within their own organizations.

Although the Panthers have said that they don’t plan to trade Young at this time, sources around the league believe it is only a matter of time before Carolina actually does complete a deal involving the second-year quarterback — with the most likely time coming at some point in the offseason.

Young, who threw for just 245 yards and three interceptions between Carolina’s first two games, was benched by the team earlier this week. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick will take a backseat to 14th-year veteran Andy Dalton beginning here in Week 3.

As Schefter notes, the Panthers have not openly indicated that they are seeking out a trade for the 23-year-old passer. Head coach Dave Canales shot down the speculation on such a deal this past Tuesday.

“Yeah, that’s not something we’re really considering,” he told reporters. “We have a great situation with our quarterbacks right now, with guys that have experience. So, we love where we’re at.”

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Report: Panthers expect Bryce Young to regain starting QB job this season

According to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, the Panthers are not ready to discard QB Bryce Young just yet.

Well, maybe it’s not over between the Carolina Panthers and the recently-benched Bryce Young.

Contrary to a report from The Athletic‘s Dianna Russini on Saturday morning, CBS Sports lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones provided a more positive outlook for the 23-year-old quarterback’s prospects in Carolina. Jones, also a former Panthers beat writer for The Charlotte Observer, noted this evening that the organization is not turning the page on Young just yet and expects him to regain his starting spot in 2024:

. . . there’s a belief within the organization that Young will be called upon again this season in what would be one of the earliest second acts of a No. 1 overall pick’s career.

“You want to see what you have in this kid,” one team source said. “It’d be foolish not to.”

Young, whose sophomore campaign got off to a particularly disappointing start, was officially demoted by head coach Dave Canales on Monday. He tossed for just 245 yards and three interceptions in a pair of losses, leading his offense to just one touchdown and only two successful third-down conversions in 22 tries.

Since he was selected atop the 2023 draft, Young has thrown for 173.4 passing yards per game with 11 touchdowns and 13 picks over 18 outings. The team went 2-16 in those contests.

The Panthers are now turning to veteran Andy Dalton for tomorrow’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. The 36-year-old made one start for Carolina in 2023, passing for 361 yards and two scores in a 37-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

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4 things to know for Panthers vs. Raiders in Week 3

Panthers HC Dave Canales is hoping to alter his team’s fortunes beginning in Week 3.

Despite piecing together about as brutal of an 0-2 start as possible, the Carolina Panthers step into Week 3 with a little renewed hope—as a switch under center could result in a switch in fortunes.

But before we hit kickoff on Sunday, here are four things to know about this week’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders:

First-year matchup

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Both Dave Canales and Antonio Pierce have entered 2024 as first-time full-time head coaches. And Week 3 will be the first time that either face a fellow first-year head coach.

Canales comes into the match looking for his first career win, whereas Pierce can snag his second this season and his seventh overall—with five coming in his interim role in 2023. Both are also looking to establish their cultures amidst a pair of shaky quarterback situations.

The Red Rifle

Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Speaking of shaky quarterback situations, the Panthers have decided to bench the struggling Bryce Young after just 18 career starts. They’ll now look to 14th-year veteran Andy Dalton for some form of offensive success.

Dalton made one start for Carolina in 2023, passing for 361 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. So that success brings a bit of hope that the 36-year-old could unlock some functionality that we have yet to see from this offense in 2024.

Gladiator match

Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

The major strengths for both teams reside in the trenches.

For Las Vegas, it’s on defense—where stars Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins reside. For Carolina, it’s actually been on offense—where this offseason’s investments into guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt have already begun to pay off.

Whoever can control the line of scrimmage, particularly in this battle, should have the advantage.

Tight history

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers-Raiders matchups are pretty rare, as the two teams have met just seven times. Las Vegas has the slight edge, carrying a 4-3 mark against Carolina heading into the weekend.

The Panthers can even up the all-time series by notching their first (and much-needed) win of the 2024 campaign.

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Panthers great Cam Newton gives his thoughts on Bryce Young’s benching

Cam Newton “spoke for” Bryce Young after the second-year QB’s sudden benching by the Panthers.

Cam Newton and Bryce Young were thrust into pretty similar situations to begin their pro football careers. Both were Heisman Trophy winners in college, both were No. 1 overall draft picks and both were expected to lead the middling Carolina Panthers to relevance.

But sharing a similar situation doesn’t mean they necessarily shared a similar environment. And, in turn, the results couldn’t be more different.

Newton, in his latest episode of 4th & 1 with Cam Newton, gave his thoughts on Carolina’s sudden benching of the struggling second-year quarterback. But instead of placing all the blame on Young, the franchise’s all-leading passer takes some aim at the franchise itself . . .

As Newton notes, the Panthers have lacked stability around Young. The 23-year-old has now had two different head coaches and three different offensive play-callers over a 19-game span.

Those 19 games have seen Carolina go 2-17 (2-16 in Young’s starts), with Young throwing for a lowly 173.4 yards per game with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Head coach Dave Canales pulled the plug after just two outings here in 2024, where Young has totaled 245 passing yards and three picks.

Newton, on the other hand, experienced incredible success early on in his NFL career. Not only did he triple his team’s win total in his very first season, pushing the 2-14 Panthers to a respectable 6-10 in 2011, but he also put on a rookie campaign for the ages in doing so.

By Year No. 3, Newton pulled the organization to an NFC South title—the first of three consecutive division crowns. And by Year No. 5, he led Carolina to their second-ever Super Bowl appearance while becoming the franchise’s first-ever recipient of the Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year awards.

Unfortunately, it’s now extremely difficult to envision Young following a similar path to Newton’s—or anything even close to it. But maybe, just maybe, Bryce’s story still isn’t over in Carolina.

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Panthers QB Andy Dalton has had great success vs Raiders in his career

Andy Dalton has never lost to the Raiders in his career. And has played some of his best football in those games.

For the first nine years of Andy Dalton’s career, he was known as the starting QB of the Bengals. But for the past five years, he’s been more of a journeyman. Though, it hasn’t seemed to matter what uniform he’s wearing, he’s kinda owned the Raiders.

Dalton has faced the Raiders as a starter three times in his career — twice with the Bengals and once with the Saints. And he’s won all three games. The last one was just two seasons ago.

And for those “wins aren’t a QB stat” folks, I gotchu covered.

Dalton’s thrown for 708 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions in those games. Giving him one of the best career passer ratings against the Raiders (114.2) of any QB ever. Even ahead of the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.

“Andy Dalton’s played a lot in this league,” said Antonio Pierce on Friday. “He’s seen everything. It seems like wherever he goes, he finds a way and gets that team going at some point. So, you’ve got a veteran savvy leader there.”

Jumpstarting their offense is exactly what the Panthers are hoping Dalton can do while giving former number one overall pick Bryce Young a chance to step back and figure things out.

There was a time when Dalton was a respected starter in this league. He twice threw for over 4200 yards and made three Pro Bowls. Granted, he’s nearly 37 years old now, so those days are long past. But he’s got it in him, so the Raiders must be prepared for that.