Bryce Young Smashes Franchise Record During Panthers’ OT Win Over Falcons

Bryce Young threw 400+ yards and 3 passing touchdowns against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 11.

Bryce Young Smashes Franchise Record During Panthers’ OT Win Over Falcons

Bryce Young (Image via IMAGO)

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Bryce Young made history on Sunday (November 16). He set a franchise passing yards record in a come-from-behind victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

The Panthers started as 4.5-point underdogs despite having a better record, while the Falcons were on a four-game losing streak. Moreover, Dave Canales’ team shut the Falcons out 30-0 in Week 3.

In that Week 3 game, even though Young did not turn the ball over, the 24-year-old had just 1 rushing touchdown to his name and a 66% pass completion rate for 121 yards. Moreover, his only game with over 200 passing yards came in the Week 2 loss to the Cardinals.

Young still showed up in Atlanta. He completed 31 passes from 45 attempts for 448 passing yards (68.8%), threw 3 touchdown passes, and had zero picks. According to AP research, Bryce Young surpassed Cam Newton‘s 2011 record with 432 passing yards against Green Bay on Sept. 18.

Bryce Young leads the Panthers to a clean sweep over the Falcons

Young opened the scoring with an accurate 7-yard pass to rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. The Falcons pegged back with three back-to-back rushing touchdowns from Bijan Robinson (4 yards and 1 yard) and Tyler Allgeier (1 yard).

Bryce Young Smashes Franchise Record During Panthers' OT Win Over Falcons
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (Image via IMAGO)

The game looked beyond the Panthers’ reach before halftime as they almost never win while trailing by 18+ points in the first half. Young lit a sliver of hope with a 36-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Legette. Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald closed the gap to just two points by converting a field goal from 34 yards.

Atlanta kicker Zane Gonzalez answered with a 52-yard field goal.

Carolina dealt a blow when Young went off with an ankle issue. Luckily, he missed just one play before returning to the game. With 1:08 minutes left on the clock, Young found McMillan, who completed a contested catch inside the endzone, giving the Panthers their first lead of the tie.

Kirk Cousins replaced the injured Michael Penix Jr., led a six-play drive that ended in a 28-yard field goal conversion by Gonzalez, forcing the game into overtime.

The Falcons punted the ball on their first try. Young orchestrated a 60-yard drive to set up a 28-yard field goal try. Fitzgerald buried the FG attempt right between the goal posts to snag an important win over their divisional rivals.

According to the Football Database, the victory gave the Panthers their first clean sweep over the Falcons since 2013.

I don’t take these games for granted. You know, the Lord blessed me to be here, to have this opportunity. And any time that I am able to go, I always want to do that. So in the moment, you’re just working through pain.

Bryce Young said (H/T: Associated Press)

Young is heating up at the right moment. In 10 games, he’s accumulated 197 completions from 314 pass attempts for 1962 yards, 15 total touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. This performance should give him plenty of confidence to take on the San Francisco 49ers next week.

Canales’ team is now level in the win column with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs are still at the top of the NFC South with one fewer loss than the Panthers.

The Panthers play the Bucs twice, in week 16 and on the final day of the season. There’s also the reverse fixture against the New Orleans Saints in week 15.

It’s a long shot, but the Panthers boast a 12.5% chance of qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2017, when they lost in the wildcard round.

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