The Carolina Panthers picked up their first win of the season in an explosive way last week, thanks to the arm (and quite possibly the hair) of new starting quarterback Andy Dalton. So now, at 1-2, the team will try to continue to strike some hope with the Cincinnati Bengals coming to town.
But before we hit kickoff on Sunday, here are four things to know about this Week 4 matchup . . .
The Dalton Tour ’24
Whether you consider it the beginning of a reunion tour or a revenge tour, this weekend starts a familiar circuit for Dalton.
The Bengals, of course, selected the Texas Christian University standout in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft. He went on to play nine seasons in Cincinnati, finishing his tenure as a three-time Pro Bowler and the franchise’s second all-time leading passer.
Dalton has already started three games against the Bengals following his departure in 2020—throwing for 403 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions and a 100.8 passer rating with a 2-1 record. He’ll look to keep the momentum going as he comes off one of the best outings of his NFL career.
After Sunday, Dalton could be in line to face his other three past employers later on this season. That docket includes the Chicago Bears (Week 5), the New Orleans Saints (Week 9) and the Dallas Cowboys (Week 15).
All tied up
The Carolina-Cincinnati matchup is a bit of a rarity, as the teams have faced off just seven times. And as of now, the series stands at three wins apiece with a 2014 tie sprinkled in.
That rare result saw the Panthers and Bengals put up 37 points each with Dalton and Cam Newton leading the way for their respective cats.
Comeback cats?
One of these teams was forecasted to be a Super Bowl contender and the other a contender for the 2025 NFL draft’s No. 1 overall pick. But you couldn’t tell who was who if you put Week 3 into a vacuum.
An AFC favorite a few weeks ago, the Bengals have floundered to an 0-3 start and are staring down the barrel of a historically-perilous 0-4 mark. The Panthers, on the other hand, are 1-2 and gaining a bit of traction.
Either way, both teams’ playoff hopes could be on the line here in Week 4.
Strap in
While the Carolina defense is still trying to find itself after a handful of key losses, cornerback Jaycee Horn has proved to be a rock-solid constant.
As he’s maintained his health thus far, which has been the biggest obstacle of his four-year NFL career, the former eighth overall pick continues to show that he’s one of the game’s top-tier corners. Just this past week, Horn held three-time First-team All-Pro wideout Davante Adams to just one catch for 15 yards in Carolina’s 36-22 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
He’ll have another premier opponent in Ja’Marr Chase on Sunday, a matchup that could help dictate the outcome of this contest.
