After a few days of being under the national spotlight for the wrong reasons, the Carolina Panthers capped off a tumultuous week with a stunning road win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The 36-22 victory saw the Panthers lead by as many as 27 points, and proved to be a thorough triumph in all phases of the game.
Let’s take a look at some of the key takeaways from a much-needed, feel-good victory in Sin City . . .
Carolina’s offense takes a massive leap forward
The viability of the Panthers offense was questioned after the benching of struggling second-year quarterback Bryce Young. But head coach Dave Canales, with a little help from new starter Andy Dalton, responded in a big way.
Carolina hit the 400-yard mark for the first time since Week 17 of the 2022 campaign. They amassed 437 total yards at 6.2 yards per play while converting on five third-down tries, more than doubling their combined total from the previous two weeks.
Sunday also marked the first time since 2022 that they finished a game with a 300-yard passer (Dalton), a 100-yard rusher (Chuba Hubbard) and a 100-yard receiver (Diontae Johnson). Canales, with Hubbard and Johnson as his primary weapons, dialed up a sound game as a play-caller with consistent selections and put his group in positions to win.
They will, however, have to answer a new question regarding the status of veteran wideout Adam Thielen—who exited the game due to the hamstring injury he sustained on his 31-yard touchdown grab. If he’s to miss some time, will the offense still be able produce without one of their top targets?
The “Red Rifle” fires on all cylinders
Dalton shined in his first start of the 2024 season, completing 26 of his 37 throws for 319 yards and three touchdowns. His performance helped him become the first NFL quarterback this season to amass at least 300 passing yards along with three passing scores.
The 36-year-old vet reacted well to the Raiders defense, especially on pressures and in third-down distances. He showcased his fearlessness to test the middle of the field with success, connecting with Johnson and rookie Xavier Legette for some explosive plays.
He displayed quality ball placement and layering on throws to each level of the field. This is something we haven’t seen consistently since Cam Newton’s time in Carolina.
After a heavy week, Dalton enjoyed the opportunity in Sunday’s win and wanted to make sure his teammates were having fun in the process.
“You know, guys were having fun,” Dalton told reporters. “I was trying to make sure the guys were having fun because you put in a ton of work for this thing. And for you to get out there, it’s like now you get time to just go and enjoy the work that you put in.”
Dalton’s outing signaled one thing—that he is the team’s starting quarterback for the foreseeable future.
The Panthers show improvement on defense
Carolina’s offense wasn’t the only unit limping into Week 3. The team also had troubles on defense, as they allowed their opponents to run rampant over the first two games of the year.
But Sunday saw their best effort yet, one that included a heck of a lot more stops.
Las Vegas converted on just three of their 11 third-down tries and one of their three fourth-down looks. The Panthers, in addition, racked up a season-high three sacks as well as an interception of Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew.
Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero should be particularly proud of the unit’s stand against the run, as they held their opposition to just 55 rushing yards—an impressive feat considering the struggles in recent weeks.
Linebacker Josey Jewell also rebounded after having a rough outing against the Los Angeles Chargers a week ago, displaying better run fits and physicality at the point of attack. Rookie Trevin Wallace saw playing time on defense for the first time this season, as both an edge rusher and as a chess piece in coverage.
Cornerback Mike Jackson had a terrific game as well—posting nine solo tackles, three passes defensed and an interception. The former Seahawk is solidifying himself as the team’s No. 2 cornerback going forward, even when free-agent signee Dane Jackson reenters the picture. Jackson’s coverage prowess and run support have made him a strong fit in Evero’s system.
