It's time for the NFL community and media to discuss Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young's resurgence. While Sam Darnold is likely to win the Comeback Player of the Year award at the NFL Honors on February 6, 2025, in New Orleans, I personally believe that the former No. 1 overall pick deserves some love when it comes to the award.
Since Week 8 of the 2024 Season...
Young has accumulated 2,104 yards and 15 touchdowns, with three of those touchdowns happening this past Sunday. Additionally, Bryce has displayed that he can be a dual-threat quarterback; since returning to the starting lineup, he has rushed for 223 yards and five touchdowns over this ten-game stretch. Since he was benched, the Panthers have recorded three wins over the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, and the New York Giants. Carolina has also competed closely with some of the best teams in the league, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"Bama Bryce"
Bryce Young is playing the best football of his career (pun intended). With the confidence he has regained, a variety of nicknames have emerged. One is "Bama Bryce," which dates back to his days at the University of Alabama. However, the most popular nickname is "The Carolina Reaper." This nickname refers to how Young and the Panthers have exploited their opponent's weaknesses, essentially "reaping" their chances for victory or clinching the playoffs in the case of the Falcons and Cardinals.
Saving the Best for Last
Bryce delivered his best performance during the final week of the regular season, achieving the first road win of his career. He completed 25 of 34 passes for 251 yards and threw three touchdown passes. Additionally, he carried the ball five times for 24 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns. This marks the first time in Panthers' history that a Carolina quarterback has thrown three or more touchdowns and ran for two or more touchdowns in a single game.
Dave Canales is Playing 5D Chess
Bryce's impressive performance in the second half of the season can be attributed mainly to Head Coach Dave Canales. After a Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Canales decided to bench Young, which drew criticism from the media and made both Bryce and Canales targets of ridicule. However, once Young was mentally and physically fully prepared, Canales reinstated him in the lineup, and Bryce has since thrived. Young has not only elevated his own game but also improved the performance of his teammates and the overall team. This hard work culminated in one of the best moments of the 2024-2025 season. At 10:44 in the third quarter, Bryce threw a touchdown pass to tight end Tommy Tremble. After releasing the ball, Bryce Young turned around and raised his hands in celebration, showcasing the confidence of “The Carolina Reaper.”
As we enter the off-season, this is the most optimistic fans have felt in years. We as fans should be excited about the future, especially now that we have faith in our head coach, Dave Canales, our general manager, Dan Morgan, and our quarterback, Bryce Young.
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