Andy Dalton has been smiling all week after an unexpected opportunity led to a successful performance. Dalton excelled in his first start for the Panthers this year, leading them to a 36-22 victory over the Raiders with 319 passing yards and three touchdowns in the first half.
This marked the first time since 2015 that the Panthers had thrown for three touchdowns in a half. They also gained more yards (437) than they did in their first two games combined (352).
"I got a chance to just be me and play and to be out there how I normally am," Dalton said. "I'm normally pretty calm; I'm normally relaxed. You know, guys were having fun. 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."
The Panthers celebrated quietly before their long flight home, aware that it was only one game in a long season. However, there was relief as their offense performed better than it had this season or last.
For Dalton, ending the game by taking knees in victory formation was significant for a team that hadn't led during any fourth quarter of its previous 20 games. The strong start began with their first possession, which resulted in a touchdown after seven plays.
"We made a mindset that we're going to go out there and put our best foot forward and see what happens," said veteran wideout Adam Thielen. "And obviously, Andy did a great job of just communicating and leading us and starting fast."
In his 14th season nearing his 37th birthday, Dalton's experience showed through his confident play.
"Honestly, it's just what I expected out of him," Panthers head coach Dave Canales said. "You know, we practiced the things, the receivers were in the right spots for him, and he took advantage when they gave us favorable coverages."
The subdued celebration also reflected Canales' decision earlier in the week to bench former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. Canales described it as a "heavy week," while Dalton mentioned private conversations he had with Young.
"But with that came the lightness of a win," Dalton added. "A relief that they hadn't enjoyed since Dec. 17, 2023 against the Falcons."
Players appreciated how complementary football lifted the entire team early on.
"I thought our guys came out with the right attitude, the right mentality from start to finish," Dalton said.
The Panthers acknowledged there are no guarantees this season but recognized this win as an important step forward.
"I mean, it shows what we can do," Dalton said. "And I think that's for us; it's like we showed what our standard is now... We've got to go play to that standard."
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