In what has become a pattern after disappointing performances, quarterback Bryce Young stepped up significantly against the then-NFC number one-seeded Los Angeles Rams in the Carolina Panthers’ 31-28 victory.
The Panthers ground out a gutsy win with clutch turnovers, and the Panthers’ offense returned fire whenever the Rams got the lead. In 2025, the Panthers have proven that they are a resilient team. When knocked down, no matter who their opponent is, they get back up the following week. That resilience is a reflection of the team’s quarterback, who, in the NFL, has never had anything come easy.
Young has shown, through his ups and downs, that when fans, the media, or whoever are ready to discard him, he shows the flashes that made him the Panthers’ number one pick. On Sunday, Young, with his three touchdown passes and career high 147.1, put the team on his back and led the comeback charge.
Comeback Kid
Bryce Young has developed a knack for the comeback win. His win over the Rams on Sunday was his 11th career game-winning drive, which is the most in the NFL since he entered the league in 2023.
Comebacks are beginning to become a signature of Young. The entire Panthers team has developed a certain confidence when Young is conducting a game-winning drive.
Darin Gantt of Panthers.com wrote about in his November 30 article how Young’s teammates, like center Austin Corbett, are calmed by Young’s demeanor in high-pressure situations.
“Well, you don’t just become the Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick for no reason,” Corbett said. “There’s a deep, unbelievable talent in him and his ability. And you’ll never suspect it because he’s so calm and just that true SoCal kid. Yeah, we’re just chilling like it’s another day in the office.”
Corbett then talked about Young’s passion coming to the surface in those moments.
“But just his fight, his ability just to lock in and just, just to be a dog is incredible,” Corbett continued. “And the calm demeanor he has in the huddle, and just to see the passion come out in those times of success, I love playing with him. It’s amazing.”
For Young, though, this is just another day at the office, and he knows to ride the wave.
“It never wavers. It’s a competitive league,” Young said. “There’s going to be ups and downs, but I know my guys. I know how they work. I know who they are. I know the competitors they are. No matter what, I’ll always have confidence in them, so I’ll never change.”
Young’s calmness has proven to be a tremendous asset, especially on fourth downs.
Fourth Down Aggression
The climactic moment in the Panthers’ comeback victory over the Rams was when Bryce Young connected with Tetairoa McMillan on a 43-yard touchdown to put the Panthers ahead 31-28.
Young has had remarkable success not only with fourth-quarter comebacks but also on fourth downs. He finished the Rams game 8 for 10, 162 yards, and three touchdowns on third and fourth down.
Kassidy Hill of Panthers.com, in her November 30 article, highlighted just how exceptional Young’s fourth-down prowess was against the Rams.
“Young is only the second quarterback since 2016 with multiple fourth-down touchdown passes that traveled over 10 air yards in a single game (Joe Flacco in his Bengals debut in Week 6 earlier this season was the other),” Hill wrote. “Against one of the league’s leading pass rush units this season, Young was pressured only seven times, his second-straight game facing fewer than 10 pressures.”
Hill also wrote that Young said he can have this type of success on fourth downs because he trusts his guys.
“I just trust my guys,” said the quarterback. “I’m super grateful to have guys like that on the perimeter that I trust in need to have situations, fourth-downs, trust them to win one-on-ones, trust them with 50/50 balls, trust them to throw them open, whatever it may be. We have a ton of competitors; they did a great job of getting those balls and putting themselves in those situations on those fourth downs.”
Young has shown a remarkable ability to go to another level in the most high-pressure situations in a game. The next step for the young quarterback is to hit that level consistently in all four quarters.
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