When the Panthers decided to bench 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, it signaled that the team was essentially giving up on the player they traded up to draft (at a high cost) — along with giving up on the season. Well, Andy Dalton had other ideas.
Dalton took over on Sunday as Panthers starting quarterback against the Raiders. And just like that, Dalton had the Panthers absolutely cooking on offense. He eclipsed 300 yards, threw three touchdown passes and had the Panthers on the verge of a blowout win.
And sure, nobody expects the Panthers to suddenly turn into a playoff contender. But the drastic flip in performance showed just how bad Young truly had been in his second NFL season.
Like, Young was never completing this pass:
What a throw by @andydalton14! What a catch by @athielen19!
📺: #CARvsLV on CBS/Paramount
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/9kJOeUA22e— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
It was just one game, but Dalton’s performance was more than enough to have fans piling on Young. Dalton was out there showing him how it was supposed to be done.
This was how Twitter/X reacted
Bryce Young watching Andy Dalton cook with the same team he did nothing with #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/MezFwy00VR
— iregretlikingsports (@Jimmy2424555) September 22, 2024
Andy Dalton showing Bryce Young that you're supposed to throw to YOUR team instead of the other team: pic.twitter.com/teOvDjGxEs
— Sleeper (@SleeperHQ) September 22, 2024
If Bryce Young’s confidence wasn’t at zero after being benched, then watching Andy Dalton torch the Raiders will pic.twitter.com/b6pjbCmVgO
— Stuart Feiner (@StuartFeiner) September 22, 2024
Bryce young at Alabama campus tomorrow finishing his degree after watching Andy dalton hang 30 + on the raiders pic.twitter.com/KqMfNkjQ6f
— John (@iam_johnw) September 22, 2024
Bryce Young watching Andy Dalton immediately threw a touchdown for the Carolina Panthers. pic.twitter.com/U2pgsZxWJ1
— At The Buzzer (@AtTheBuzzer1) September 22, 2024
Andy Dalton marching 70 yards in 9 plays for a TD in his literal first drive as the starter not helping the "Bryce Young never had a chance to succeed in this offense" storyline lmao
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) September 22, 2024
Andy Dalton rn on Bryce Young’s career pic.twitter.com/d9whLsDH2V
— fivepointsvids (@FivePointsVids) September 22, 2024
Bryce Young, 245 yards in 2 games
Andy Dalton, 212 yards in 2 quarters pic.twitter.com/3iRVh4Z6Iq
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) September 22, 2024
