Ball up top, Bryce Young. That was the sentiment with the former No. 1 overall pick taking the reins of the Carolina Panthers offense again after being benched following a Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. With Andy Dalton suffering a thumb injury on his throwing hand as a result of a car accident on Tuesday, Sunday’s road game against the Denver Broncos presented Young with a shot at redemption. It also presented an opportunity for first year head coach Dave Canales to see exactly what he has in the Heisman trophy winner. Not for nothing, the circumstances were less than ideal with top targets Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson out. Couple that with the fact that the Broncos defense has been particularly stingy; giving up only ten touchdowns through the first seven weeks of the season and came into the game with the league’s third highest blitz rate.
Still, it’s the NFL and an opportunity is an opportunity. To be clear, a win would be difficult and even if Young played a near perfect game, the defense has been porous, to put it lightly. The game started off promising with Carolina forcing a turnover on Denver’s opening possession. Lil’Jordan Humphrey fumbled the ball and Shy Tuttle recovered inside Denver’s territory. Carolina cashed in and cracked the scoreboard first as Young connected with rookie receiver Xavier Legette for a 6-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Defense forced a punt on Denver’s next possession, but it was all Bo Nix and the Broncos from there on out. The rookie led three straight scoring drives to put his team up 21-7 at the half.
The offense struggled to move the ball and when there was a positive play, Carolina shot themselves in the foot with penalties and turnovers. Two promising drives were snuffed out with Young being intercepted by Pat Surtain II and Ja’Quan McMillian in the third and fourth quarters, respectively. Denver’s lone score of the second half came in the third quarter when Nix and Jaleel McLaughlin connected on a 9-yard touchdown reception. UDFA rookie Jalen Coker capped off a promising afternoon for the Panthers with a 15 yard touchdown reception in the final minute of the game. Coker led the Panthers receiving core with four catches for 78 yards. Chuba Hubbard, who has been having a career season, was held to 56 yards on 15 carries. Young finished 24-of-37 for 224 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. On the other sideline, Nix was 28-of-37 for 284 yards and three touchdowns. Courtland Sutton, who had 93 yards in the first half alone, finished with 100 yards while Adam Trautman added 85 yards and a touchdown on National Tight Ends Day. The Broncos put up a staggering 400 yards of total offense as the Panthers defense continues to reel. Carolina falls to 1-7 and returns home next week to host divisional rivals New Orleans Saints.
