Dalton’s Win Over Raiders Raises Concerns About Bryce Young’s Future

The Carolina Panthers achieved a surprising 36-22 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, showcasing that Andy Dalton may be the key to their success, as indicated by coach Dave Canales. This result also raised concerns regarding Bryce Young’s current capability to lead the team and stirred further questions about his future as a franchise quarterback.

Dalton demonstrated the skills that have eluded Young during his short NFL career, including the ability to make defenses respect the passing game and develop plays confidently. He completed 26 of 37 passes for an impressive 319 yards and three touchdowns, notably scoring three touchdowns before halftime. In stark contrast, Young had failed to throw a single touchdown in his previous four games.

The performance of Dalton underscored the gap in Young’s development, with the latter struggling as a starter, holding a 2-16 record before his benching last week. Canales’ decision to bench Young surprised many in the league and raised eyebrows regarding Carolina’s commitment to the first overall pick of the 2023 draft, despite reassurances that the Panthers do not plan to trade him.

From the very beginning of the game, Dalton exuded confidence, benefiting the team’s morale. His capacity to throw into tight coverage, combined with his ability to remain composed in the pocket, reinvigorated his teammates who had seemed deflated under Young’s leadership during the early season. Over the first two games, the Panthers suffered tremendous losses, including being outscored 73-13, with a staggering 50-3 deficit in first half points.

On Sunday, Dalton connected with five receivers for gains exceeding 20 yards, marking a significant improvement from the previous week when the Panthers managed only one such play with Young at quarterback during a crushing defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers. Canales acknowledged Dalton’s efficiency, saying, “He operated and functioned in our system, got us to the right runs, threw it to the first open guy, progressed when he had to and checked it down. He did a fantastic job of just playing efficiently and made some explosive plays.”

This newfound effectiveness in passing opened up the ground game for the Panthers, allowing Chuba Hubbard to shine with 114 yards on 21 carries, averaging a robust 5.4 yards. His ability to gain significant yards on first downs enabled Dalton to work through manageable down-and-distance situations. With this support, the team embraced play-action opportunities more effectively, culminating in Dalton’s deep touchdown pass to Adam Thielen.

However, there are still areas of concern for Carolina. The defense’s secondary has allowed seven touchdown passes across the first three games, although most of the points given up against the Raiders occurred when the game was already out of reach. Overall, Carolina managed to contain Gardner Minshew’s passing attempts but will need to strengthen their defense ahead of the upcoming challenge against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals.

On a positive note, wide receiver Diontae Johnson benefited significantly from the quarterback switch, catching eight passes for 122 yards and a touchdown, markedly better than his previous two games under Young where he amassed only 34 yards from five catches. Dalton’s performance has revived Johnson’s role as the Panthers’ primary receiver, and his targets may increase, especially if Thielen is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, Young was relegated to the sidelines as the backup quarterback, bringing further attention to his performance challenges which have been underscored by three interceptions and no touchdowns in his opening games this season.

The Panthers are also facing concerns regarding injuries after Thielen exited the game due to a hamstring issue following a spectacular diving touchdown catch at the end of the first half. With three receptions for 40 yards, his status for Week 4 is uncertain. If Thielen is unable to participate, Jonathan Mingo and rookie Xavier Legette will likely receive increased opportunities in the passing game. Additionally, guard Damien Lewis was unable to finish the game due to an injury.

One standout statistic from the game was Hubbard’s impressive 169 yards from scrimmage, as the running back showcased his potential as a reliable every-down player. Dalton is set to face the Bengals, his original team from the 2011 draft, next Sunday in Charlotte.

Source: Associated Press