Cincinnati Bengals vs. Carolina Panthers: 2018 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-09-23, the Carolina Panthers took care of business against the Cincinnati Bengals, pulling away with a 31–21 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

A. Dalton (Cincinnati Bengals) paced the passing game, with +4.24 total EPA, and +2.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Boyd (Cincinnati Bengals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.97 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+16.1% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Cincinnati Bengals changed the game: (8:36) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass deep left to 83-T.Boyd pushed ob at CAR 25 for 49 yards (24-J.Bradberry).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 T. Boyd · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +10.97 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.57 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Funchess · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +4.41 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.63 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Eifert · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +4.33 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.54 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Dalton · Cincinnati Bengals · Passing · +4.24 total EPA · 49 snaps · +0.09 EPA/play
5. 5 C. McCaffrey · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +3.86 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Newton · Carolina Panthers · Passing · +3.66 total EPA · 27 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Anderson · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +3.59 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.59 EPA/play
8. 8 C. Uzomah · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +2.29 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.14 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Cincinnati Bengals — G. Bernard (Q1 52:47)
• Carolina Panthers — C. Newton (Q1 48:09)
• Carolina Panthers — D. Funchess (C. Newton pass) (Q2 42:07)
• Cincinnati Bengals — C. Uzomah (A. Dalton pass) (Q2 37:04)
• Carolina Panthers — C. Anderson (C. Newton pass) (Q2 32:56)
• Carolina Panthers — C. Newton (Q3 20:35)
• Cincinnati Bengals — T. Boyd (A. Dalton pass) (Q3 18:03)

Field goals

• Carolina Panthers — G. Gano (Q4 1:16)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q1 52:47) — (7:47) 25-G.Bernard up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q1 52:40) — 4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the CIN 2 (Q1 48:09) — (3:09) 1-C.Newton left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q1 48:02) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy..

The second quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 14–7. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the CIN 4 (Q2 42:07) — (12:07) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 17-D.Funchess for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q2 42:03) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy.; Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q2 37:04) — (7:04) 74-J.Fisher and 94-S.Hubbard reported in as eligible. 14-A.Dalton pass short right to 87-C.Uzomah for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q2 36:59) — 4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the CIN 24 (Q2 32:56) — (2:56) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 20-C.Anderson for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q2 32:47) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the CIN 5 (Q3 20:35); Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q3 20:34) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy.; Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the CAR 27 (Q3 18:03) — (3:03) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass deep left to 83-T.Boyd for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q3 17:53) — 4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber..

The fourth quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 3–0. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the CIN 22 (Q4 1:16) — (1:16) 9-G.Gano 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Cincinnati Bengals (Q4 8:36) — (8:36) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass deep left to 83-T.Boyd pushed ob at CAR 25 for 49 yards (24-J.Bradberry). [WPA +16.1% · EPA +3.85]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q3 24:35) — (9:35) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass short right intended for 80-J.Malone INTERCEPTED by 94-E.Obada (24-J.Bradberry) at CIN 26. 94-E.Obada to CIN 26 for no gain (68-B.Hart). [WPA -9.6% · EPA -5.13]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 50:22) — (5:22) (Shotgun) 22-C.McCaffrey up the middle to CIN 6 for 45 yards (30-J.Bates). [WPA +8.8% · EPA +2.61]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q1 56:55) — (11:55) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass short middle to 18-A.Green to CAR 36 for 9 yards (54-S.Thompson). [WPA +8.6% · EPA +1.46]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q2 39:57) — (9:57) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass deep right to 83-T.Boyd pushed ob at CAR 26 for 23 yards (26-D.Jackson). [WPA +8.3% · EPA +2.81]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Cincinnati Bengals (Q3 24:35) — (9:35) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass short right intended for 80-J.Malone INTERCEPTED by 94-E.Obada (24-J.Bradberry) at CIN 26. 94-E.Obada to CIN 26 for no gain (68-B.Hart). [WPA -9.6% · EPA -5.13]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q4 8:36) — (8:36) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass deep left to 83-T.Boyd pushed ob at CAR 25 for 49 yards (24-J.Bradberry). [WPA +16.1% · EPA +3.85]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 32:56) — (2:56) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 20-C.Anderson for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.3% · EPA +3.59]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q3 18:03) — (3:03) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass deep left to 83-T.Boyd for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.5% · EPA +3.37]

Quarterback report card

A.Dalton led all passers in efficiency for Cincinnati Bengals, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• A.Dalton (Cincinnati Bengals) · 49 dropbacks · 59.2% completion · +2.0% CPOE · +0.09 EPA/play · +4.24 total EPA
• C.Newton (Carolina Panthers) · 27 dropbacks · 55.6% completion · -0.5% CPOE · +0.14 EPA/play · +3.66 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Carolina Panthers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.11 vs +0.01), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Carolina Panthers: 12 drives, +9.26 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Cincinnati Bengals: 11 drives, +0.51 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Carolina Panthers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Boyd (Cincinnati Bengals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q1 52:47 · CAR 1 · Score 6-0
   (7:47) 25-G.Bernard up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q1 52:40 · CAR 15 · Score 7-0
   4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
3. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q1 48:09 · CIN 2 · Score 7-6
   (3:09) 1-C.Newton left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q1 48:02 · CIN 15 · Score 7-7
   9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy.
5. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 42:07 · CIN 4 · Score 7-13
   (12:07) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 17-D.Funchess for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 42:03 · CIN 15 · Score 7-14
   9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy.
7. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q2 37:04 · CAR 1 · Score 13-14
   (7:04) 74-J.Fisher and 94-S.Hubbard reported in as eligible. 14-A.Dalton pass short right to 87-C.Uzomah for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q2 36:59 · CAR 15 · Score 14-14
   4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
9. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 32:56 · CIN 24 · Score 14-20
   (2:56) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 20-C.Anderson for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 32:47 · CIN 15 · Score 14-21
    9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy.
11. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q3 20:35 · CIN 5 · Score 14-27
    (5:35) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton up the middle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official reviewed the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was Upheld. The r
12. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q3 20:34 · CIN 15 · Score 14-28
    9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy.
13. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q3 18:03 · CAR 27 · Score 20-28
    (3:03) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass deep left to 83-T.Boyd for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q3 17:53 · CAR 15 · Score 21-28
    4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
15. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q4 1:16 · CIN 22 · Score 21-31
    (1:16) 9-G.Gano 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy.