CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A week after guiding the Carolina Panthers on a game-winning drive in the pouring rain to end a six-game losing streak, Bryce Young kept the momentum going with his best game of his rocky rookie campaign.
Young passed for a career-high 312 yards in the Panthers' 33-30 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. On the game's final play, Young completed a pass that got Carolina in field goal range, but spiked the ball as time expired, negating a chance to tie the game.
Despite the loss, Young's performance is just what Panthers fans were hoping the No. 1 overall pick would produce for the team. He passed for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to pull the team back from down two scores. It was the first time in five games that Young found the endzone.
"He was in complete control. He knew exactly how the game was being played," Chris Tabor, the Panthers' interim head coach, said about Young. "Our quarterback is playing with confidence. He's a good player."
That confidence helped the Panthers pick up just their second win of the season in Week 15 over the Atlanta Falcons. For Young to follow up that win with another solid week is a promising look for the rookie.
"There's so much more to come [from Young]," DJ Chark, the Carolina receiver who caught both of Young's touchdown passes, said after the game. "He's making plays. He's comfortable but that's what we know him to be in this locker room."
Young's rookie year has not been all wonderful, though. He came into Week 16's matchup with as many interceptions as touchdowns -- nine each -- and has only scored in nine games this season, including Sunday.
Against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9, Young threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. Against the New Orleans Saints in Week 14, he completed an abysmal 36% of his passes as the team failed to reach the endzone.
Additionally, Young has been sacked nearly four times every game which has killed many scoring chances the Panthers have had this season.
Struggling years for No. 1 overall picks are nothing new. Peyton Manning went 3-13 and led the league in interceptions in his rookie year. Troy Aikman went 0-11 and had double the number of interceptions (18) than touchdowns (9). Panthers fans can look to those Hall of Famers for hope with their young quarterback. One main difference is that the Panthers surrendered their 2024 first-round pick to acquire Young this year.
The Panthers' last No. 1 rookie QB was Cam Newton, who had an exceptional first year that earned him the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2011. Young's development might not be as instant but is still possible.
"You're seeing a rookie player grow," said Tabor. "I'm really happy for him."