The box score (and the scoreboard) may tell a different story, but Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was an absolute stud on Sunday.
Despite his team’s 48-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Young gave another fine account of himself in Week 17. The second-year passer chucked for 203 yards and two touchdowns, including a 40-yard bomb at the end of the first half that met wide receiver Adam Thielen right in the end zone.
Young, who has been questioned for his ability to throw downfield, carved up the Tampa Bay defense with his deep ball. According to The 33rd Team, he completed five of his seven throws of at least 15 air yards—accounting for 120 yards, the two scores and a 153.3 passer rating.
Head coach Dave Canales talked about Young’s long shots on Monday afternoon.
“Looking at the course of the game, looking at some of the opportunities that we had—of course—starting off in that first drive, having some success down the field,” Canales told reporters. “And then, I was calling a bit of a more aggressive style of plays for Bryce and I think Bryce could feel that, so he was looking for those opportunities.”
In addition, Young’s encouraging outing, per NFL’s Next Gen Stats, yielded a 68.6-percent pressure rate on his dropbacks. No quarterback has faced a higher pressure rate in any game this season.
Canales was also asked about Young’s poise under the pressure.
“Yeah, he was a stud about it and he just kept battling,” he replied. “They did a great job, whether they were blitzing us or just rushing four with the stunts and some of those things. I felt like, again, kinda the style of the game and the score of it, when we give teams more opportunities, they will start to game you up different. They will start to attack you in different ways.
“So, we kinda brought that on ourselves based on just the mode of the game. And Bryce just stood in there and kept operating, which I was proud of— again, to be able to just keep hunting and trying to find opportunities down the field.”
Since returning to the starting lineup in Week 8, Young has amassed 19 big-time throws—the second-most over that span.