The last time the Carolina Panthers appeared in primetime, Bryce Young threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns in a 32-26 win over the Lions. Young was both efficient and impressive, hitting on all the new, creative solutions offensive coordinator Brad Idzik had installed and making some big-time throws needed. An 18-yard sideline dart to Tetairoa McMillan on a third and 14 late in the game epitomized everything that was going right for the Panthers' passing offense, led by a massive step by Young.
By the end of the night, Young was leading the NFL in passing yards. But that was then, and this is now. After a 27-19 loss to the Packers, the Panthers are 3-4 and have produced back-to-back offensive stinkers.
Just four days earlier, they were blown out 43-13 by the Buccaneers, a game in which Young threw two interceptions and took five sacks. Thursday, Young took six sacks and threw a pick. Teams have bad games and even bad stretches.
But this stretch has been particularly worrisome for the Panthers for a bevy of reasons: Young's play, yes, but also a crumbling offensive line and opponents figuring out some of Idzik's and Young's tendencies. Given Young's rocky career path thus far, there are big questions arising, the same big questions that have followed him his entire career. Do the Panthers have answers?
Young's biggest strength has always been his mind. He is terrific at dissecting defenses both pre- and post-snap. This week was always going to be a challenge.
Short weeks on the road leave far less time to prepare, and it often becomes a "players, not plays" scenario when it comes to determining a winner; physical skill wins out. Young, because of some of his physical limitations, has a thin margin for error. And when the Panthers trot out an offensive line like this, especially against a blitz-heavy, disguise-heavy Packers defense, that margin for error completely disappears.
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