After a putrid performance versus the New Orleans Saints I described Bryce Young as a ’conservative yet still turnover prone passer whose skillset heavily limits the ceiling and creativity of an offense’. Public perception and confidence of the quarterback had hit a season long low, and the team was heading for a game against the NFL’s top ranked passing defense in the Atlanta Falcons. All hope of having a future franchise quarterback on the roster seemed lost and any expectations of a proper passing offense seemed little
more than wishful thinking.
So what does Young do in the face of all the doubt, criticism and the league’s best pass defense? He goes out and throws for a franchise record breaking 448 yards. A number that includes 12 completions of 15-plus yards, 9 of which were for more than 20 yards, according to Panthers.com.
You didn’t see that coming, I didn’t see that coming, literally no one saw that coming. If you say you saw it coming, you’re lying. If you are not lying, you would have been accurately described as delusional prior to Sunday.
It’s unquestionably the story of the Panthers victory and therefore it would be disingenuous to break down anything else for this week’s game review. Let’s give Young his flowers for showing up to Atlanta with a broom and sweeping the dirty birds.
Young’s performance surpassed the previous franchise record of 432 yards set by Cam Newton during his second ever game as a Panther. On the season, Young’s performance is the highest passing yards total for a quarterback in a winning effort as well as the highest total without a turnover.
On passes farther than 10 yards down the field, Young completed 10 for a career-high 225 yards and two touchdowns. That’s more yardage than Young’s second highest total passing yards in a game this season, which was 199 against the Dallas Cowboys.
Young’s 448 yard day brings his season total over 10 game total to 1,962 yards. Nearly a quarter, 22.8% to be precise, of Young’s season long production came in 1 game.
The scary part is, it likely could have been much more. Several pass protection issues flared up for the Panthers leading to 5 sacks and an injury scare that had Young limping several times over the course of the contest and even being offered a cart to take him to the winning locker room.
A couple more understood pass pro assignments and a left guard not immediately stepping on his foot on a crucial 4th down and who knows what the final stat line could have reached?
Nevertheless, that final number is not the main objective. Getting another notch in the win column was the most important thing. At least, it was the most important for that single battle. In order for the Panthers to win the so-called war, they’ll need more than a single flash in the pan game. They need him to not regress back to mediocre.
Look no further than this weekly column for what I mean. The Panthers have been wildly inconsistent the entire season. Excelling when they are doubted but being crushed when they are expected to win.
After Sunday, the team will once again receive a wave of positive publicity and a spike in public confidence. Can they continue their rise, or once again fall flat once the moment get’s a little bit bigger?
We can only find out how they manage it this time by watching the next game – and this one is during primetime. We’ll see you next week, after the Panthers take on the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. Until then, keep pounding.
