LAS VEGAS – Andy Dalton led the Carolina Panthers to a touchdown on Sunday in their opening drive against the Raiders, ending the NFL's longest active streak of 20 consecutive games without a touchdown on the first series.

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

Chubetta believes that was a touchdown pic.twitter.com/H0sSsQKwjr

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) 22 September 2024

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

The Panthers had not had a lead for seven games in a row, the third-longest streak of any team in the last 20 seasons.

Dalton, who was named the starter on Monday after Bryce Young was benched, completed 5 of 6 passes for 52 yards and the 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 receiver Adam Thielen hauled in with a spectacular catch to make it 21-7.

What a litter of @andydalton14! What a catch from @athielen19!

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

— NFL (@NFL) 22 September 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 is the first time since 2015, during Cam Newton's MVP season, that the Panthers have had three touchdown passes in the first half of a game.