Improved Bryce Young Gives Panthers Momentum Going Into Bye

Fresh off a 20-17 overtime win against the New York Giants in Munich, Germany, on Nov. 10, the Carolina Panthers find themselves on a two-game winning streak — a touch of momentum as the team returns stateside.

Not the best time for a bye week. 

The Panthers now have a 3-7 record, which may not look great, but on the bright side it means Sunday’s win put them over their win total for all of last season, which they finished at 2-15.

It also followed the Panthers scratching out a much-needed victory, 23-22, over division rival the New Orleans Saints the previous week, their first win at home under head coach Dave Canales. 

The loss was so shocking and unexpected for New Orleans that they fired coach Dennis Allen once it was over. Even having gone into the game at 3-6, losing to the Panthers was just too much to take. 

That’s what Carolina had become, a stop on the schedule pre-marked as a win. While nobody is planning any parade routes anytime soon, teams will at least be forced to do some game planning before facing the Panthers. Things are starting to look up.

Bryce Young steps up 

Having reclaimed his spot as starter, quarterback Bryce Young has looked better than he did starting the season, despite missing targets again against the Giants. While he’s not putting up big numbers, his awareness in the pocket continues to improve and he’s getting the ball out of his hands much quicker. 

That latter fix was a goal for Canales before the season started, when he indicated that 2.7 seconds was enough time for him to get through his first two reads and a checkdown. 

Against the Saints on Nov. 3, Young rallied the Panthers back from a 22-17 deficit late in the fourth quarter. It was the first game-winning drive of Young’s career. The numbers didn’t jump off the page then either — 16-26 with one touchdown and 171 yards plus an interception — but it was one of the best games I have seen from him. 

Young was a completely different player against the Saints than the one who was benched earlier this year, when his body language looked as bad as the team’s play on the field. 

Even the interception came on a beautiful play that in all honestly couldn’t be blamed on Young in any real way. Young lofted a perfectly placed pass to Xavier Legette, landing it right in his receiver’s hands before Saints safety Shemar Jean-Charles snatched it right out of Legette’s hands as he fell to the ground. 

During the previous game in Denver, which the Panthers lost 28-14, Young started his first game since being benched after their second loss, an opportunity that came about thanks to a thumb injury suffered by his backup Andy Dalton in a south Charlotte car wreck. Whether it came from simply sitting and watching or behind-the-scenes work with Canales, Young didn’t look like the scared, overmatched player in Denver that he did at the start of the season. 

The second-year QB is making quicker decisions, getting more elusive in the pocket, throwing the ball downfield, and standing his ground to take the hit on occasion. 

After the Saints game, Canales talked about what he’s looking for from Young: “This is about progress from one week to the next. I talk about finish all the time — finish plays, drives, quarters, halves, and finish games. He did a fantastic job of finishing that game the right way.”

We asked Canales during that post-game presser what his thoughts were on Young’s newfound confidence. 

“It just helps being out there,” the coach told us. “Having the game in Denver to go through some things that we talked about and trying to build and trying to take steps; he did that. He re-engaged last week. He was focused and continued to work on his game and work on his teammates like he has been.” 

Asked if he thought he was seeing the field better than he had earlier in the season, Young insisted that wasn’t the case. 

“I wouldn’t say that. It was opportunities, guys around me doing a great job of making plays for me and me giving them a shot,” he said. “We did some good stuff today. There’s still stuff for me to clean up. Obviously, I haven’t watched the film yet, but I’ll go in with the same perspective, same mindset of trying to grow and see how I can be more efficient in everything.” 

Panthers rookies pitch in 

Rookie receivers Legette and Jalen Coker, plus rookie tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders have been providing Young with some much-needed help on offense. Sanders had four catches in the home win for 87 yards, currently ranking second statistically among rookie tight ends. 

The trio was mentioned in an article by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler in which he put together his midseason All-Rookie Team, as was linebacker Trevin Wallace, who ranks second among rookie linebackers in tackles on the season. 

That bodes well for GM Dan Morgan, who helmed his first draft in April after Scott Fitterer was let go. Before the trade deadline, Morgan dealt Dionte Johnson and a sixth-round pick for a fifth from the Baltimore Ravens. He also traded 2023 second round pick Jonathan Mingo and a seventh in 2025 for a fourth-round pick from the Dallas Cowboys next year. 

That gives the Panthers nine picks in next year’s draft, with eight of them coming in the first five rounds. 

One player they didn’t deal was wide receiver Adam Thielen, who was Young’s top target last season but has been injured since the team’s trip to Las Vegas in September. He’s back on the active roster as of Nov. 12 and his contract extends through 2025. 

Chuba Hubbard has been a handful for opponents, currently sitting third in NFL rushing with 818 yards after a career-best 153-yard explosion in Germany, coming just says after he signed a four-year, $33.2 million contract extension with the Panthers. 

With the addition of offensive linemen Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis in free-agency this past offseason, the Panthers have done a good job freshening the offense. 

Defense remains a disappointment

The defense, however, continues to be a disappointment, with the Panthers ranking last in points and rushing yards allowed per game, giving up an average of 31 points and 160.1 yards rushing. Silver lining: They moved up two spots from last to 30th after a relatively impressive showing in the Giants game, giving up 386.9 yards total offense per game to opponents. 

Keeping defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero was considered a must for the incoming Canales, with him running the defense so Canales could concentrate on the offensive side of the ball, but that hasn’t worked out as planned.

To be fair, the Panthers have suffered some brutal losses. The team’s best defender, defensive tackle Derrick Brown, went down with an injury in the first game and was ruled out for the season, then Shaq Thompson joined him, tearing his achilles in the fourth game against Cincinnati. 

In addition, Brian Burns was not retained from last year’s team and star linebacker Frankie Luvu left to join the Washington Commanders. These losses have taken their toll and it shows in the box scores. 

Carolina was dominated statistically against the Saints, as New Orleans was the first team in 20 years to rush for at least 150 yards, outgain their opponent by at least 150 yards, and win the turnover battle but still lose the game.

Cornerback Mike Jackson secured the win, stopping a long sideline pass to Saints receiver Cedric Wilson Jr. to save the victory on a fourth-and-four play, allowing the Panthers to run out the clock from there.  

It’s good to get a win 

While the Panthers are only taking baby steps, it had to be a good feeling for Canales to not only come out with a victory, but know his weekly visit with owner David Tepper would be a pleasant one.

“It’s just exciting to see the hard work pay off,” he told us following the Saints win. “Coming back every single week, coming back after losses and having to just go right to the film, right back to the basics and the fundamentals. It gives us a chance to point to those things and show where those things showed up and show the things we’ve got to continue to improve.”  

He should get another bye this week, along with the team, since they pulled out the overtime win. 

While nobody is happy with 3-7, the Panthers are showing progress. Before the Nov. 5 trade deadline, team officials were repeatedly asked whether they planned to trade Bryce Young. Having done so would have been a premature move, and I think he should remain the starting quarterback for Carolina now and into next year. 

They gave up far too much to get him to now turn around and give up on him. While he may never be the quarterback they envisioned, watching him the past three weeks, he can contribute to winning football in the future. In fact, he is the future. 

The team traveled more than 4,500 miles to Munich for the Giants game and now have a two-game winning streak, making the trip a der erfolg (success). Wins translate in any language, and now there’s that tiny speck of hope for the future.