Carolina rookie head coach Dave Canales states the obvious about the Panthers' Week 3 matchup with the Raiders.

“I’ve been around guys. I think Andy Dalton’s got a special character to him and understanding of this offense,” Whitworth recalled saying. “We’ve gotta buckle down and just play with this guy as our quarterback, and we’re gonna be a lot better than you guys think.”

Andy Dalton is in that scenario now, and spoke about it this afternoon. Dalton, the new starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, chatted with reporters following Wednesday's practice.

Andy Dalton has never lost to the Raiders in his career. And has played some of his best football in those games.

The Carolina Panthers visit the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Carolina is 0-2 and Las Vegas is 1-1. The Raiders are favored by 5 1/2 points.

On Sunday, the team will roll out quarterback Andy Dalton under center—going ahead with their sudden switch from previous starter and 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. Head coach Dave Canales was asked how the unit has looked at practice with the 14th-year veteran now at the helm.

Said Ezekiel Elliott, who watched Andy Dalton step up in Dallas: “It didn’t matter if he was getting hit, taking it in the face. He stayed level-headed.”

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton has never lost to the Raiders. He is 3-0, completing 63 of 94 passes for 708 yards and seven touchdowns.

Dalton has been handed the reins of the Panthers offense, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for a unit in need of a spark. Name an offensive stat, and the 2024 Carolina