The Carolina Panthers made the decision last week to bench former first overall pick Bryce Young. Replacing him is veteran and former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. Many, if not everybody expected the Panthers to just roll over already after an abysmal 0-2 start. But that didn’t happen. Instead, the Panthers dominated the Raiders as Dalton looked like the Red Rifle that many Bengals fans remember. Serving nine years as the Bengals starter, Andy Dalton and the Bengals shared a few fun years together, making the playoffs five straight years. At the end of his tenure in Cincinnati, Dalton had become the 2nd all-time leading passer in Bengals history and the all-time Bengals leader in touchdown passes.

Now, in recent years the Red Rifle has been pointed at the Bengals. Despite playing for four different teams since being released by the Bengals, Dalton has somehow found himself as the starting quarterback against his former team in what will be four out of five years after leaving Cincinnati.

The former Bengals quarterback is 2-1 against his old team with 63% completion rate, 403 passing yards, 4 touchdown passes and 0 interceptions. Dalton has seen a fair amount of success versus the Bengals in the twilight of his career and will look to keep being a thorn in the Bengals paw this week.

While the Panthers may be the current laughingstock of the NFL and Dalton hasn’t exactly been well revered in his career either, he cannot be taken lightly this week. The Bengals need this win but that may not come easy against Andy Dalton. Dalton lit up a Raiders team last week that just came off a big comeback win in Baltimore. The Panthers nearly put up three times the number of points in week three than they managed in the first two weeks combined. Leading the way was Andy Dalton, who threw for over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns, becoming the first quarterback in 2024 to accomplish such a feat–off the bench no less!

Now the focus for Dalton and the Panthers will be on the Bengals when they come to town this week in a game where Dalton has a lot to prove. Facing his former team, who benched the nine-year starter on his birthday, Dalton will look to serve a dish best served cold and continue his hot streak. Momentum is a dangerous element in the NFL and for Dalton and the offense, that may be their best weapon.

The red rifle looked every part of a starting quarterback last week as he tries to prove he can still play. Aside from the revenge factor for the Veteran this week, the added motivation of his dwindling career possibly receiving a revival make this a trap game for Cincinnati.

The Bengals head into Charlotte this Sunday needing a win, and it is clear they cannot take their opponent lightly.