LAS VEGAS (AP) — Andy Dalton gave the Panthers the quarterback play they've been sorely lacking, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns to lead Carolina past the Las Vegas Raiders 36-22 on Sunday.
Promoted to the starting job in place of the ineffective Bryce Young, Dalton guided the Panthers (1-2) to their first win and moved to 4-0 lifetime against the Raiders.
Carolina, now 3-17 going back to last season, was outscored a combined 73-13 by the Saints and Chargers in the first two weeks before Coach Dave Canales benched Young, the No. 1 overall draft pick just a year ago, on Monday.
Dalton resembled the quarterback who earned the nickname “Red Rifle” in his prime more than a 36-year-old who last started in Week 3 of last season. He was sharp throughout, completing 26 of 37 passes and becoming the first NFL quarterback this season to post a 300-yard, three-TD performance. Dalton has thrown for 1,027 yards and 10 TDs in four career starts against the Raiders.
In the first half alone, Dalton threw for 212 yards and three touchdowns. His first three-TD performance in two years lifted a Panthers offense that had scored a single field goal in its previous two road games.
Chuba Hubbard rushed for 114 yards and caught five passes for 55 yards and a touchdown.
The result was a disheartening loss for Las Vegas (1-2), which hoped to build on its 26-23 victory at Baltimore last week but instead more closely resembled the team that had a win projection at BetMGM Sportsbook of 6 1/2.
Gardner Minshew completed 18 of 28 passes for 214 yards with a touchdown and interception. The Las Vegas running game, which entered the game last in the league with a 49-yard average, totaled just 55 yards.
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy's conservative play-calling drew repeated boos throughout the game. His close-to-the-vest strategy has developed into a storyline, and it likely doesn't help that his former quarterback with the Bears, Justin Fields, is 3-0 with the Steelers so far this season.
Perhaps more alarming, the Raiders' defense had no answers for Dalton or Hubbard. It didn't help that Maxx Crosby didn't play every defensive snap for the first time this season after hurting his ankle against the Ravens.
Carolina took advantage right away, scoring touchdowns on two of its first three drives to take a 14-7 lead. The opening drive ended a 20-game streak in which the Panthers failed to reach the end zone on their first series. It also was their first lead since being up 9-7 over the Falcons on Dec. 17.
The Panthers continued to build on that advantage and ended a 20-game streak dating to Week 17 in 2022 against the Buccaneers of not leading in the fourth quarter. They were up 27-7 against the Raiders.
Carolina's three victories since then came on field goals as time expired.
This was the first meeting between teams with female presidents. Kristi Coleman holds that title with the Panthers and Sandra Douglass Morgan with the Raiders.
Panthers: WR Adam Thielen (hamstring) was injured catching a touchdown pass shortly before halftime. DT Shy Tuttle (foot) did not play.
Raiders: LB Divine Deablo (oblique/concussion) and CB Decamerion Richardson (hamstring) did not play. RT Thayer Munford (knee/ankle) left the game in the first quarter and S Marcus Epps (knee) went down in the third.
Panthers: Host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
Raiders: Host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen scores ahead of Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah is tackled by Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton passes against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson celebrates after scoring with quarterback Andy Dalton during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
CLEVELAND (AP) — There's one play that works better than all the others for the New York Giants: throw the ball anywhere in the vicinity of Malik Nabers.
The rookie wide receiver caught two touchdown passes from Daniel Jones, made a sensational grab over a defender down the sideline and even broke up a potential interception as New York held off the Cleveland Browns 21-15 on Sunday for its first win.
Jones and Nabers connected twice in the first half as the Giants (1-2) built a 21-7 lead before holding on for dear life.
“I have a lot of trust in him going up and getting the ball,” said Jones, who completed 24 of 34 passes for 236 yards as New York shook off a loss at Washington that prompted a week of criticism toward coach Brian Daboll.
It wasn't easy.
Despite losing three offensive linemen to injuries, Deshaun Watson rallied the Browns (1-2) and Cleveland had three chances to take the lead in the fourth quarter. But the Giants recovered a fumble and stopped the Browns twice on downs.
The Giants were hardly perfect. They fumbled the opening kickoff and fell behind 7-0 in the first 11 seconds, and newly signed kicker Greg Joseph missed 48-yard field goal that could have helped ice the game.
“Just a normal NFL game,” Daboll said with a straight face.
Nabers is anything but normal.
One of the Giants' only bright spots through two games, the first-round pick shined again with eight catches for 78 yards, including an incredible grab in the corner of the end zone for his first touchdown.
At 21 years, 56 days, he also became the youngest wide receiver in NFL history to have two TD receptions.
Nabers said Jones gave him specific instructions on the plays in which he was targeted.
“He said, ‘It’s you or nobody,’” Nabers said.
Late in the first half, Nabers snatched the ball away from Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. for a 28-yard reception.
“One hell of a catch,” Daboll said. “When you have a guy like that, it doesn't really matter the matchup. Throw the ball up to him and trust he's going to get it.”
A few plays later, Nabers scored on a 3-yard pass from Jones with his leaping, twisting grab in the back of the end zone.
Nabers smiled when asked if knew he had it all the way.
“I seen where it was going and I was like, eh," Nabers said.
While those catches were noteworthy, Daboll said Nabers' biggest play was breaking up an ill-advised pass by Jones that Cleveland nearly intercepted deep in Giants territory.
“For him to have the awareness to knock the ball down, that plays says more to me about Malik than some of the other things,” Daboll said. “Everyone can see the touchdowns, but the unselfish play, the smart play he made was huge.”
The Giants' defensive front did its job, sacking Watson eight times as the Browns had their second poor performance at home in three weeks — and some major injuries piled up.
Cleveland's starting left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) and right guard Wyatt Teller (knee) were hurt along with backup tackle James Hudson III. That forced coach Kevin Stefanski to shuffle his line in front of Watson, who went 21 of 37 for 196 yards and two TDs.
More troubling, All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett may have aggravated injuries to his feet by playing. He was set to undergo an MRI on Monday, and a significant injury to Garrett could alter Cleveland's season.
“A whole lot of things going on,” Garrett said when asked about his feet. “It’s part of the game. I’m not gonna make excuses. Excuses don’t win this game.”
Other than the fumble on the opening kickoff, the Giants dominated the first half.
Jones was nearly perfect, completing 17 of 19 passes — 12 in a row at one point.
New York's defense kept the pressure on Watson, sacking him four times with Brian Burns stripping Cleveland's QB to set up Jones' second TD strike to Nabers with 11 seconds left in the half to put the Giants ahead 21-7.
Giants: CB Dru Phillips (calf) went out in the first half and CB Adoree' Jackson (calf) got hurt in the third quarter. ... ILB Michah McFadden (back) went off early in the fourth. ... WR Darius Slayton (thumb) also was hurt in the second half.
Browns: Stefanski said all three linemen will have imaging tests. ... Cooper was slow getting up on Cleveland's second-to-last play but said he was fine.
Giants: Host Dallas on Thursday night.
Browns: At Las Vegas on Sunday.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones rolls out to pass against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston, foreground left, is tackled by New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) reacts after throwing a touchdown pass next to New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns (0) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns, right, forces Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) to fumble the ball, which the Giants recovered, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) runs against New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94) is congratulated by defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II, middle, and linebacker Brian Burns after sacking Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) passes against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) passes as Cleveland Browns safety Ronnie Hickman (33) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, left, looks to pass as Cleveland Browns defensive end Alex Wright (91) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) catches a touchdown pass against the Cleveland Browns during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
