Seventy-one points! That’s what the Carolina Panthers offense dropped in their first two games, a franchise record that has everyone talking about quarterback Bryce Young. This isn’t the slow starter we’ve known. Young looks totally confident out there, commanding a truly history-making offense that’s leading the league.
A New Offensive Juggernaut in Carolina?
Through just two starts, the Panthers are absolutely crushing it, ranking first in passing offense with an insane 312 yards per game and second in scoring with 35.5 points per game. Young himself is tied for first with six passing touchdowns and second with 648 passing yards. Seriously, what a start! A lot of credit has to go to rookie offensive coordinator Brad Idzik. These two have connected early, and it’s making a huge difference. Young himself praised Idzik, saying, “I love how collaborative he is, how much conversation and feedback that we’re able to have on the sideline. He’s super diligent, on top of it as far as having notes, having thoughts, being that one or two plays ahead or two drives ahead on the sideline and being able to sit down and have that dialogue.” This collaboration is clearly fueling the fire.
From Benching to Dominance: A Stunning Comeback
Just two seasons ago, entering Week 3, things were completely different for Young. He was benched by then-first-year coach Dave Canales after two unsteady starts. His rookie year was rough, man, he endured a club-record 62 sacks over 16 shaky starts as the No. 1 overall pick, leading the Panthers to a dismal 2-15 season. And the two starts into 2024? They weren’t much better, with only 245 passing yards, zero touchdown passes, and three interceptions, including a really bad downfield attempt on his very first pass of the season. But Young, the 2021 Heisman Trophy recipient, stayed focused on his locker-room leadership, supporting new starter Andy Dalton. He got back in the lineup about two months later, and BOOM, a totally different signal caller emerged. In his first 24 games after the benching, he showed a real flair for the dramatic, racking up 42 touchdown passes to just 15 interceptions and pulling off 10 game-winning drives. It’s wild to see the turnaround. He’s one of only two quarterbacks under 26, alongside Arizona’s Kyler Murray, to hit at least 285 yards, three touchdown passes, and a passer rating of at least 110 in the opening two weeks of a season.
What’s Next for the 25-Year-Old Star?
Young’s hesitation, something that used to really plague his performances, is clearly diminishing. And those hasty throwaways when pressure collapsed the pocket? They’re basically gone. Coach Canales summed it up perfectly: “I think something we talk about a lot is watching this offense become Bryce’s offense.” Going back to January’s NFC Wild Card loss, Young has now led the Panthers’ offense to three straight 30-plus point efforts and leads all quarterbacks in completions of at least 25 yards. With two inspiring starts in ’26 and his fifth season already guaranteed, Bryce Young is out here competing for a long-term contract extension and has general manager Dan Morgan rethinking everything about those opening contract negotiations. This Sunday, the Panthers face the Cleveland Browns, who are 1-1. Can Young keep this historic pace going and force Morgan’s hand even more? You gotta watch!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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