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For the first time as a starting QB in the NFL, Bryce Young led the Panthers to a 15-13 win over the Houston Texans, to secure his first win as a starter, and the first win under new head coach Frank Reich. The final score would indicate that the game wasn’t pretty, and you’d be exactly right, but for a winless team, the Panthers aren’t looking for style points, but instead something to build off of, as the season moves forward.
During the bye week, the Panthers made a decision to switch from Frank Reich being the offensive play-caller to, offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, who has never called plays in the NFL. While the offensive output wasn’t a drastic change from what we’ve seen to start the season, the operation did look cleaner at times, and even if the Panthers would’ve lost, it was a step in the right direction for Bryce Young, and the offense.
Speaking of Bryce Young, not only did he earn his first win as a starter, but he also recorded his first-ever fourth-quarter comeback, leading Carolina to a game-winning field, after trailing 13-12. Young was a very efficient, 22-31, for 235 yards, with one touchdown, and no interceptions. In the process, Young was sacked six times and had to battle his receivers, as the unit combined to drop a handful of balls. Furthermore, he had no help in the running game, as the Panthers ran the ball 24 times, for 44 yards, which works itself out to a 1.8 average per carry. That is exactly what the Wes & Walker Show started off talking about earlier this afternoon on WFNZ, as both were impressed with the way that Young, made the most, even with the odds stacked against him.
If you take yourself back to the NFL Draft process, Young emerged as the favorite to be the #1 pick, in large part because of his ability to process defenses and make all the throws, in and out of the pocket. But what really separated him from CJ Stroud and the others, was the way he demonstrated the ability to overcome bad plays or a bad sequence, and it not impact his entire game.
That is exactly what happened yesterday, as Young was able to outduel his rookie counterpart, despite his offensive line and his skill position players, failing him. Yesterday was the first real glimpse of what Young is going to bring to the table for the next decade or so, as there aren’t many QBs in the NFL, that are able to get sacked six times, have virtually no running game, and have receivers drop balls, and still led the team to a win. Young did that, and it was the first time his potential was rewarded with a win, and it will only continue to grow the confidence and belief that the front office and the locker room will have in him.
You can catch the Wes & Walker Show, every weekday from 12-3, on Sports Radio 92.7 WFNZ, and the WFNZ app. Tomorrow’s show will headlined by their “Second Take Tuesday” bit, where they go back over all the key plays from the Texans game.
