Who Should I Start? Andy Dalton or Josh Allen

Thursday, August 21, 6:05 PM

Carolina Panthers backup quarterback Andy Dalton (elbow) is being held out of the team's preseason finale on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Panthers beat writer Darin Gantt. Starter Bryce Young will also be held out, leaving QB duties on Thursday to Jack Plummer and Bryce Perkins, who was just signed on Monday. The 37-year-old Dalton suffered a muscle strain in his right elbow in the team's second preseason tilt last Saturday against the Houston Texans. While the injury isn't considered overly serious, Dalton is strictly focused on being available for the club's Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 7, against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Red Rifle is purely a backup at this point in his career. In six games (five starts) played last year in Carolina when Young was benched, he threw for 989 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions.

Saturday, October 11, 1:35 PM

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen will face his toughest challenge of the season when the team heads to Atlanta to take on the league's top-ranked defense. The Falcons have been dominant, allowing just 244 total yards per game, including a league-low 135 passing yards. Monday night's clash features the NFL's two leaders in time of possession, with Buffalo averaging 34:09 and Atlanta close behind at 33:30, setting up a physical, clock-controlling battle. While the Falcons have padded their numbers against Marcus Mariota and J.J. McCarthy, they did hold Baker Mayfield to just 159 passing yards in Week 1. Allen's dual-threat ability and offensive weapons should still allow him to produce, but expectations should be tempered--he's best viewed as a mid-tier QB1 in what could be a grind-it-out matchup.