Very few, if any people know how to bring life to the Carolinas like Cam Newton does. So he must’ve been nodding in approval about what he saw this past Sunday.
The left-for-dead Panthers have arisen, as they captured their first win of the 2024 campaign in a stunning upset victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3. Their 36-22 win was sparked by veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, who passed for 319 yards and three touchdowns in his first start since replacing the struggling Bryce Young.
Newton, on Thursday’s episode of 4th & 1 with Cam Newton, gave his thoughts on what Dalton has brought to the team.
“The way that the Panthers need to win games—it’s not feasible to the strengths of what Bryce Young presents,” he said. “26-of-37, 319 yards, no interceptions, three touchdowns. That’s Andy Dalton. If that’s Bryce Young, he would’ve put the ball in danger a couple of times. And that’s just with maturity in an offense. That’s with maturity in itself, or the speed of the game.”
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The speed of the game seemingly caught up to Young at the start of what was a much-anticipated sophomore campaign. Last year’s No. 1 overall pick, between a pair of blowout losses, tossed for just 245 yards, no scores and three picks.
Carolina’s offense then immediately found its footing under Dalton. The unit recorded their first 400-yard game since 2022 and converted on five of their third-down attempts—more than double of what they hit under Young in those first two games combined.
And that, as Newton went on, has given fans hope.
“But the thing that I like most about the Carolina Panthers, is they responded,” he added. “And I say this constantly about Carolina, ’cause you’re representing two states. They just want hope. Okay! Thank you! We’ve finally seen something!”
