The Carolina Panthers had to fight. Fight through injuries. Fight for 4th conversations, and fight to win. In the team’s 30-27 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons, they pulled off what may be their most impressive victory of the season.
Quarterback Bryce Young had the greatest statistical game of his career. He went 31/45 for 448 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He had a 123.2 quarterback rating as well.
Young didn’t just have a great game; he had the greatest passing performance in Panthers history, topping Cam Newton’s 432-yard game against the Green Bay Packers in his rookie year in 2011. Young finally had his signature performance as a Panther.
Young After More Than Records
Bryce Young put together one of the greatest Panthers individual performances in the history of the franchise, but for Young, getting the win was the accomplishment Young was most proud of.
In his November 17 article, Darin Gantt of Panthers.com wrote about how Young was honored to break a record held by a player of Newton’s caliber, though.
“Definitely an honor,” Young said. “I have so much respect for Cam, for all that he has accomplished, for the player he is, all the stuff. I have so much respect for him, so hearing that is definitely an honor.”
Still, Young’s focus is on the bigger picture and what lies ahead for the Panthers.
“You didn’t want me to say it first, but I’m still going to repeat it, individual awards, that’s not what I’m after,” Young said with a grin. “It doesn’t mean anything. I’m grateful that we won; we had the most important stat today, and it was a win. That’s all that matters.”
Young may not want to have the spotlight on himself, but he proved something to both the fans and his teammates in his ninth fourth-quarter comeback of his career.
Young’s Toughness
In a game where Bryce Young was injured and had to fight to return, his physical toughness was not in question, but the mental toughness he showed in leading the Panthers to victory was the most impressive part.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales raves about Young and his “whatever it takes” approach in his Monday press conference. Darin Gantt and Kassidy Hill of Panthers.com wrote about Canales and his praise of Young.
“Just the resilience, an opportunity to show his teammates that he wants to be out there with those guys to win that game with them,” Canales said. “And I think if Bryce was up here, he’d tell you first and foremost, whatever it takes to win and just try to find a way to contribute, try to find a way to affect the game, and he certainly was able to do that, getting himself back out there and battling through some stuff to be available for us and coming up with some big plays when we needed it.”
The Panthers are hoping Young’s comeback effort will help spring the team forward the rest of the year with renewed confidence. With two games against the division-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of them, the Panthers’ division and playoff hopes are very much alive.
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