Bryce Young walks into the Carolina Panthers Record Books with Unchartered Performance and a 30-27 OT Comeback Win

#Panthers QB Bryce Young looks on from the sideline Photo: Kevin Tolbert

By Kevin Tolbert

ATLANTA -- The Carolina Panthers matchup against the Atlanta Falcons was a game with a big message attached. The biggest message was whether Bryce Young could level up regarding his ability to engineer consistent scoring drives with his arm. He did exactly that with a fast start to the first quarter.

During the Panthers opening possession, Young led a 12 play 73-yard drive, capped by a 7-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan. It was McMillan’s first touchdown reception since the team’s matchup with Dallas.

The Falcons struck back in less than two minutes with a rushing touchdown by Bijon Robinson to tie the game at 7-7.

On the ensuing drive, the Panthers saw a promising performance by Bryce Young halted when he was injured after being sacked by Falcons’ safety Billy Bowman and had to leave the game and later headed to the locker room for further evaluation.

After trailing in the first half, Young and the Panthers’ offense came out swinging. Young piloted a 5 play 68-yard drive that was sealed with a Xavier Legette 36-yard touchdown reception. Young stretched the field better than any game this season and appeared to position himself better to make throws.

But later in the second half, with the Panthers trailing 19-21, the version of Bryce young that hesitates to get rid of the football coupled with more bouts of indecisiveness resurfaced. One of the biggest examples was on a third and seven at the 48 yard line that ended at the 41 yard line where Young was sacked after he neglected to get rid of the ball before going down.

It was a short-lived episode. Young’s resilience along with his supporting cast gave Carolina what they needed later in the second half. Young played through the pain of re-aggravating his previous ankle injury.  “I’m just really proud of how he stepped in there and made the plays when we really needed him to, “ head coach Dave Canales expressed during his postgame press conference.

Young also weighed in on his effort to fight through the pain during the game. “It’s part of our identity. Coach (Canales) says it all the time.”

Six receivers had explosive plays courtesy of Bryce Young’s arm on Sunday. Young finished the win going 31/45 for 448 yards and three touchdowns—the best performance of his career. The mark also set a new team record—moving Young ahead of Panthers great Cam Newton (432). “Definitely an honor. I respect Cam (Newton), for all that he’s accomplished, “Young said.

“But we had the most important stat today—that was a win.”

That performance was also responsible for feeding rookie Tetairoa McMillan’s record day. McMillan garnered 130 yards receiving on 8 receptions and two touchdowns.

But every super hero needs a sidekick and Tommy Tremble was exactly that with a 54-yard reception in overtime to help setup a Ryan Fitzgerald game-winning field goal. The score game the Panthers the 30-27 win over Atlanta to sweep the season series against the NFC South rival Falcons.

The Panthers are just a half game out of first place in the division with a record of 6-4. But the remaining games on the schedule are some of the toughest matchups in NFL this season.