It may well be the Andy Dalton Show again this weekend as the Carolina Panthers gear up to face the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dalton has seamlessly taken over as the Panthers’ starting quarterback, guiding the team to its long-awaited first win of the season last weekend.
Now, he’ll face a unique challenge: defeating his former team, the Bengals, this Sunday afternoon in **Charlotte, North Carolina**.
“It’s always fun to get a chance to play against them,” said Dalton, who spent his first nine NFL seasons with Cincinnati after being drafted in the second round in 2011.
Given the rocky start of last season for the Panthers (1-2), it’s hard to believe they come into this game with a superior record compared to the Bengals (0-3), who are coming off a nail-biting 38-33 loss to the visiting Washington Commanders on Monday night. Cincinnati’s three losses were by a marginal combined total of 12 points.
Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor acknowledged that this isn’t the position the team expected to find themselves in, but he’s not sounding the alarm bells just yet.
“In a long season, things can always change,” Taylor said. “What we need to do is not overreact. We need to focus on how we can actually improve, and not just decide we need to make radical changes.”
Panthers head coach Dave Canales emphasized a determined return to form, stating, “This is just one step and we need to get back to work and feel the urgency that this entire group has.”
Taylor, who coached Dalton in his first year with Cincinnati in 2019, expressed his appreciation for Dalton’s contributions to the team.
“I’ve always been grateful to Andy,” Taylor said. “He helped us navigate a very difficult period. It doesn’t surprise me that he continues to seize opportunities and excel, thanks to his preparation and talent.”
The Bengals have issues that extend beyond facing Dalton.
“It’s a new opportunity for this team to prove itself,” Taylor stated. “This is a humbling week. There are a lot of ups and downs, and now we’re down.”
It’s rare to see Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow coming into a game overshadowed. Despite his five touchdowns and zero interceptions, Burrow has been sacked eight times this season.
The Bengals desperately need to reinforce both sides of the line of scrimmage.
“On offense, you can’t afford to waste any plays,” Taylor said. “…Defensively, we need to improve our execution in open spaces.”
With renewed vigor, the Panthers could capitalize on their initial win to unlock further potential in their schedule.
“We saw more opportunities open up, allowing guys to play aggressively, be free, and enjoy the game,” Canales said. “We want to keep attacking.”
The Panthers will search for additional options to support Dalton, especially after receiver Adam Thielen was placed on injured reserve Tuesday due to a hamstring injury sustained while scoring a touchdown against the Raiders.
Key players who did not practice on Wednesday include left guard Damien Lewis (elbow), defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson (knee), defensive tackle Shy Tuttle (foot), and cornerback Lonnie Johnson (hip). Safety Nick Scott (quadriceps) was limited.
The Bengals will be without offensive lineman Trent Brown, who exited Monday’s game with a season-ending knee injury. Defensive linemen BJ Hill (hamstring) and Sheldon Rankins (hamstring) also missed practice on Wednesday, as did defensive end Trey Hendrickson (illness). Star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (shoulder), who nabbed two touchdown receptions Monday, was limited.
“We need to ensure they’re fully ready before they come back,” Taylor said regarding Hill and Rankins.
If there are any silver linings for Cincinnati fans, this could be the opportune moment for the team’s second road trip of the season.
“The beauty of being professionals is that we know how to block out the noise and focus on what’s important,” Taylor noted.
The all-time series between these two teams stands at 3-3-1, with the Bengals triumphing in their last matchup, 42-21, at home in 2022.
