LAS VEGAS — — Andy Dalton gave the Panthers the quarterback play they desperately needed, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns to lead Carolina past the Las Vegas Raiders 36-22 on Sunday.

Dalton was promoted to the starting lineup to replace the ineffective Bryce Young and led the Panthers (1-2) to their first win, going 4-0 against the Raiders.

Carolina, which is 3-17 last season, was outscored by the Saints and Chargers by a combined 73-13 in the first two weeks before coach Dave Canales benched Young on Monday, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft.

Dalton looked more like the quarterback nicknamed “Red Rifle” in his prime than the 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 throw for 300 yards and three TDs. 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 one 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 disappointing loss for Las Vegas (1-2), which had hoped to build on last week’s 26-23 win at Baltimore but instead looked more like the team projected to win by 6 1/2.

Gardner Minshew completed 18 of 28 passes for 214 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The Las Vegas running back, which started the game dead last in the league with an average of 49 yards, totaled just 55 yards.

Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s conservative play-calling drew repeated boos throughout the game. His chest-to-the-chest strategy has become a storyline, and it probably doesn’t help that his former Bears quarterback, Justin Fields, is 3-0 with the Steelers so far this season.

Perhaps even more alarming, the Raiders’ defense had no answer for Dalton or Hubbard. It didn’t help that Maxx Crosby didn’t play every defensive snap for the first time this season after injuring his ankle against the Ravens.

Carolina took immediate advantage, 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 was also their first lead since they led the Falcons 9-7 on Dec. 17.

The Panthers built on that advantage, ending a 20-game streak dating back to Week 17 in 2022 against the Buccaneers in which they didn’t lead in the fourth quarter, leading 27-7 against the Raiders.

Carolina has since won three games on field goals as time ran out.

Breaking down barriers

This was the first meeting between teams with female presidents. Kristi Coleman holds that title for the Panthers and Sandra Douglass Morgan for the Raiders.

Injuries

Panthers: WR Adam Thielen (hamstring) was injured catching a touchdown pass just 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 quarter.

Next

Panthers: Host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Raiders: Host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

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