Carolina Panthers starting quarterback Cam Newton is currently nursing a lingering lower leg injury and was unable to take the field on Sunday afternoon against the Arizona Cardinals. However, the Panthers still managed to come away with the team’s first victory of the 2019-20 regular season, thanks to the play of backup-turned-starter Kyle Allen, who took over under center in the absence of the aforementioned Newton.

Not only did Allen help lead the Panthers to a much needed 38-20 road win over the Cardinals, but the second string signal-caller notably produced the second-best passer rating in franchise history on Sunday afternoon in Arizona.

“Kyle Allen showed he should be the quarterback for the Panthers next week and let Cam Newton continue to rehab his foot injury, throwing four touchdown passes and compiling a 144.4 passer rating that was the second best in team history,” writes David Newton of ESPN. “And he led Carolina to a 38-20 victory over Arizona, preventing an 0-3 start.”

Prior to hitting the road en route to defeating a dangerous Cardinals team led by rookie quarterback and 2019 first overall pick Kyler Murray, the Panthers — under the direction of what seemed to be an already banged up Newton — started of the year 0-2.

In Week 1, the Panthers lost a close one against the potent Los Angeles Rams while Carolina then came up short against the rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2.

While Newton’s health status remains unchanged at the moment, it could be another week of Allen in Week 4 against the Houston Texans.