The Carolina Panthers have dropped three consecutive games since Andy Dalton led them to a win over the Las Vegas Raiders. That victory came shortly after first-year head coach Dave Canales made the bold decision to bench Bryce Young, last year’s No. 1 overall pick. Despite Dalton’s struggles, including a fourth-quarter interception in the recent 38-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Canales confirmed that Dalton will remain the starter for the upcoming game against the Washington Commanders.
Young, who has only seen limited playing time since being benched after a poor 2-16 start to his NFL career, will continue in a backup role. Dalton’s performance against the Falcons was mixed, as he completed 26 of 38 passes for 221 yards with two touchdown passes in the first half but also threw two interceptions in the second half. The Panthers, now 1-3 under Dalton, have not won since losing veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen to a hamstring injury, and they were also missing two starting offensive linemen in the game against Atlanta.
The Panthers’ ground game had been effective, with Chuba Hubbard gaining significant yardage on consecutive carries before Dalton’s critical interception early in the fourth quarter. Canales, who also serves as the offensive play caller, opted to attempt a pass at that point, assuming the Falcons would be focused on stopping the run. However, Dalton’s throw into triple coverage resulted in a turnover, ending the drive and deflating the home crowd. The Falcons then capitalized with an 84-yard drive, culminating in a touchdown run, while Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier combined for 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Reflecting on the interception, Dalton admitted he should have released the ball sooner or opted for a safer throw, noting that a lack of practice time with tight end Ian Thomas, who was returning from injured reserve, may have contributed to the miscommunication. “That was a big drive for us, especially with the momentum we had,” Dalton said. “That one hurt, and it’s on me. I’ve got to make better decisions.”
While Dalton has brought some offensive improvement to the team—boosting the Panthers’ scoring average from 6.5 points per game under Young to 22.5 points per game under his leadership—the team remains under constant pressure to score, given the struggles on defense. Carolina’s defense is allowing 33.8 points per game, ranking ninth highest in the Super Bowl era, contributing to what has been a historically poor season on that side of the ball.
Despite the team’s challenges, Canales continues to maintain a positive outlook, urging the Panthers to focus on steady improvement. “The message to the team is just consistency,” Canales said. “Can we play consistent football while addressing the issues? We need to keep taking steps forward, finding a balance in our play, and finishing stronger.”
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