Andy Dalton threw three touchdown passes and sparked what had been a dismal Carolina offense as the Panthers beat the host Las Vegas Raiders 36-22 on Sunday.
Dalton, a 36-year-old veteran who became a journeyman after beginning his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, replaced 2023 No. 1 overall draft choice Bryce Young as the starting quarterback just three games into the season. Dalton completed 26 of 37 passes for 319 yards without an interception.
Diontae Johnson made eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown. Chuba Hubbard ran for 114 yards on 21 carries and caught five passes for 55 yards and a score for the Panthers (1-2).
Las Vegas quarterback Gardner Minshew completed 18 of 28 passes with an interception and a 13-yard TD pass to Jakobi Meyers in the fourth quarter. Backup Aidan O’Connell had a TD toss to Tre Tucker in the final minute.
The Raiders (1-2) rallied a week earlier to win at Baltimore, but there was no sort of comeback brewing in their home opener.
By the time Carolina took a 21-7 lead to halftime after Las Vegas kicker Daniel Carlson missed a 57-yard field goal, the Raiders had heard several rounds of booing from their fans.
The Panthers padded their lead in the third quarter on Eddy Pineiro field goals from 43 and 35 yards. Las Vegas failed to produce a first down on any of its three third-quarter possessions.
Pineiro added a 26-yarder in the fourth quarter to make it 36-15 with 4:47 left.
Carolina had it rolling from the beginning of the game.
The Panthers drove 70 yards on the game’s first possession, scoring on Dalton’s 6-yard pass to Hubbard. It marked Carolina’s first opening-drive touchdown in 20 games.
Dalton had 124 passing yards after three series, eclipsing the team’s total last week. The Panthers’ 14 points on those drives were more than the first two games combined.
The Raiders pulled even at 7-7 by going 97 yards in 10 plays and scoring on Alexander Mattison’s 2-yard run.
Dalton responded with a 5-yard connection with Johnson to put Carolina back ahead. Later in the second quarter, the Panthers went 68 yards in four plays, scoring on Dalton’s 31-yard strike to Adam Thielen with 28 seconds left in the half.