Beginnings are such delicate times. For the Carolina Panthers, they've mostly gone bad during the Bryce Young era.
The first five games of his NFL career back in 2023 were all losses, and in only one of those starts did Young show the potential that made him the No. 1 overall pick in the first place.
To start the 2024 season, Young put in two performances that were so bad that head coach Dave Canales had no choice but to bench him. When he returned to the lineup midseason, he showed steady improvement and finished the year on a high note.
However, at the outset of last season, Young once again stumbled out of the gate. In losses to Jacksonville and Arizona, Young committed five turnovers (three interceptions, two fumbles) and didn't find his footing
until the fourth quarter against the Cardinals.
In 2026, Young simply has to have a better start. According to Mike Kaye at ESPN, the Panthers' success this season depends on it. Kaye writes:
This season is a success if ... Young gets off to a hot start. The Panthers made the playoffs last season at 8-9, but a plus-.500 record is necessary to further establish the program under coach Dave Canales.
At the very least, Young has an opportunity for a strong start based on his opponents. Chicago visits Week 1 and the Bears' defense ranked 22nd against the pass in 2025.
Next up, it's a trip to Atlanta to face the Falcons—who Young has had far more success against than any other team so far in his career. That includes a franchise-best 448 passing yards in a meeting last year and a 4-1 all-time record.
After that, the Panthers visit the Cleveland Browns, who had the third-best passing defense in the league in 2025. While they're now missing two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, the Browns still have a lot of quality pieces on this side of the ball. That makes this the first true test of the year for Young and the Panthers offense.
Then, before their early Week 5 bye, the Panthers square off with the Detroit Lions—whose secondary may be amongst the most undermanned in football.
In Canales' two seasons at the helm, the Panthers have gone a combined 2-6 over the first four weeks of the season. So if Young can kick off the first month with bang, then perhaps that mark will start to even out for Carolina.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers' 2026 success may rely on one key element for QB Bryce Young
