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There's Exactly One More Game Bryce Young Should Start for Panthers

The Carolina Panthers don't have much use less for Bryce Young, but there is one more game he absolutely must start in 2024.

By Jason Schandl

Oct 27, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) prepares to pass the ball in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Oct 27, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) prepares to pass the ball in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
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Bryce Young was set up to fail in Week 8. The Carolina Panthers didn't want him starting in the first place, and it was the final nail in the coffin for his long-term future with the team. But that doesn't mean he should be on the bench the rest of the season.

Andy Dalton can take back over when he's healthy, but there's one game the Panthers must absolutely start Bryce Young for. It's their best option for handling his future with the team.

Young has to be calling shots under center in Week 16 against the Arizona Cardinals. Why?

Because that's the perfect showcase game before trading him this offseason. It's essentially the opposite situation he faced in Week 8 — when a start against the elite Denver Broncos defense was sure to make him look bad, confirm that he didn't belong in the lineup and potentially crush his trade value all at the same time. But just look at the favors the Cards have done for opposing passers.

Arizona's 7.2 net yards per pass attempt allowed are tied for the third-most in the NFL. They're only generating pressure on 14.1% of dropbacks (third-lowest rate in the NFL). PFF has them graded out as the NFL's No. 29 ranked defense, which includes ranking 29th in coverage and 30th in pass rush. Seven of the eight QBs they've faced have put up a passer rating of at least 94.0, with three of them going over 110.

If Young is going to do anything to show other teams that he might be worth trading for this offseason, giving them hope that they can turn his career around and unlock his potential, it's going to happen against Arizona.

Now you do run into one potential issue — benching him after a good game there isn't necessarily a good look. But if the team does decide that they can't keep switching back and forth, that shouldn't do too much damage to his value. The final two games of the season after that are against the Atlanta Falcons (12th most net yards per pass attempt allowed) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10th). He won't look nearly as good against those two NFC South foes as he will the Cardinals, but he also wouldn't completely undo the progress made in Week 16.

So while it shouldn't matter too much to Panthers fans who starts the next few games at quarterback, it's crystal clear that the franchise has to get Young back in the lineup for Week 16.

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