Remember all of those jokes about the Carolina Panthers having nowhere to go but up? Yeah, we can throw those away now.
The ‘0’ had to go on Sunday, as the Panthers captured their first win of the 2024 campaign in a stunning 36-22 upset of the host Las Vegas Raiders. Sparked by the first start of the season from veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, Carolina finally broke out on offense and received some complementary football on defense.
So now that they actually look like a real NFL team, here’s where the Panthers stand across the power rankings heading into Week 4 . . .
USA TODAY
Author: Nate Davis
Rank: 23 (+9)
Take: “Veteran QB Andy Dalton came off the pine to pass for 319 yards and three TDs – totals benched Bryce Young has never surpassed in the NFL – in Sunday’s upset of Las Vegas.”
NFL.com
Author: Eric Edholm
Rank: 31 (+1)
Take: “Dave Canales absolutely deserved to lead a raucous postgame celebration of Sunday’s win, which was his first as a head coach and only the second for the Panthers since last Halloween. Canales’ controversial decision to bench Bryce Young after two games and turn to Andy Dalton was validated by Dalton’s delivery of a Red Rifle classic. The veteran threw for three touchdowns and looked totally in command, as if he’d been running this offense as the starter since OTAs. If you’re a glass-half-empty type, well, no, this one didn’t make Young look great in comparison, as the Panthers had much better rhythm than they did at any time he was running the offense. The energy and body language also felt far different Sunday. But questions about the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft can wait; for now, we’re looking forward, and Carolina is 1-0 in the AD era. For the first time in forever, the Panthers have elevated from the Power Rankings basement. The view surely isn’t too shabby from here after they were below ground for the better part of a year.”
ESPN
Author: David Newton
Rank: 31 (+1)
Take (on team’s biggest issue on offense): “Quarterback Andy Dalton proved coach Dave Canales was right in benching Bryce Young, and that the Panthers were close if they had a steady presence under center. With Dalton on Sunday, the Panthers looked like an offensive juggernaut instead of the lifeless unit they were with Young. Dalton had three touchdown passes in the first half against the Raiders. Young has only two TD passes in his past nine starts. The Panthers had a 300-yard passing game, 100-yard rushing game and 100-yard receiving game for the first time since Week 8 of 2022.”
CBS Sports
Author: Pete Prisco
Rank: 29 (+3)
Take: “Andy Dalton made this a different team. He was sharp and accurate and the confidence bled over to the rest of the team. Benching Bryce Young looks to be the right decision.”
Pro Football Talk
Author: Mike Florio
Rank: 29 (+3)
Take: “Can they string two wins together?”
Yahoo Sports
Author: Frank Schwab
Rank: 30 (+2)
Take: “The Panthers should feel like their season started Sunday. They’re 1-0 with Andy Dalton at QB. We’ll see if that was just a one-game boost with a backup and they fall back to the bottom. But there’s good reason for them to feel like they can be competitive with a competent quarterback.”
