You may have heard that the Carolina Panthers allowed the most points that they ever have in a game to the Chicago Bears in what became the highest scoring Week 1 game in NFL history. It was not a good look for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero or his players. It did, however, help underscore that most people are worried about the development of quarterback Bryce Young with the defense ranking as a distant afterthought. This week’s Reacts survey showed a small dip in the overall confidence that fans have in the current direction of the franchise and a large part of that is attributable to the offense, before the game got well and truly out of hand, out scoring all but one game in Young’s career.
Young showed a level of play that has rarely been seen outside of Atlanta. The only game where Young has scored more than he did against the Bears last week was 2024’s season finale where the Panthers beat the Falcons 44-38 in overtime. It’s the kind of performance he was drafted to have routinely. Instead, it has proved very much the exception. Showing that exception in a season opener—a game that Young has traditionally bombed in— provides fresh hope that he has turned the proverbial corner. Optimism on that front is my best theory for why more people aren’t concerned about the Panthers’ future with their current defense.
A surprising 41% of fans think that last Sunday will prove to be an average to below average performance for Young and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik. Again, evidence that a lot of Panthers fans are ready and willing to jump on the Young hype train if he’s pulling out of that station this year. Similar optimism has moved the Panthers odds over at FanDuel from +1.5 point underdogs when odds opened to -2.5 point favorites here on the eve of the game.
Will Atlanta Bryce show up against the Falcons tomorrow or will we see another disappointing game that will deflate most of the fanbase? We’ll find out tomorrow.
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