LAS VEGAS — Andy Dalton led the Carolina Panthers to a touchdown on their opening drive against the Raiders on Sunday, ending the NFL’s longest streak of 20 straight games without scoring a touchdown in a first-run game.

Dalton threw the ball to running back Chuba Hubbard near the 10-yard line and the running back finished with a 6-yard score, giving the Panthers their first lead since Week 13 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Chubetta believed it was a touchdown photo.twitter.com/H0sSsQKwjr

—Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 22, 2024

The last time the Panthers scored a touchdown on their opening drive was in Week 17 of 2022 at Tampa Bay. They now have a 20-touchdown streak after failing to score on their opening drive on Sunday.

The Panthers had gone seven games without holding a lead, the third-longest streak by a team in the past 20 seasons.

Dalton, who was named the starting center on Monday after Bryce Young was benched, completed 5 of 6 passes for 52 yards and a touchdown in his first start since Week 3 of last season, when Young was injured.

With 28 seconds left in the first half, Dalton threw his third touchdown pass, a 31-yard pass that was caught in spectacular fashion by receiver Adam Thielen, making it 21-7.

What a throw @andydalton14! What a catch of @athielen19!

📺: #CARvsLV on CBS/Paramount
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge photo.twitter.com/9kJOeUA22e

— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024

The Panthers had not led by seven or more points in the first half since Week 16 of 2022 against the Detroit Lions.

This marks the first time since 2015, during Cam Newton’s MVP season, that the Panthers have scored three touchdown passes in the first half of a game.