“Almost.” A small word with great meaning. Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers almost secured the franchise’s first playoff win since 2015. Back then, some guy named Cam Newton was the face of the Panthers.
But that was long ago. Panthers fans talk of that team like legends of old. Hallowed names such as Luke Kuechly and Greg Olsen used to grace the field at Bank of America Stadium.
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Times have been rough since that 2015 Super Bowl loss. The Panthers have been mediocre at best.
But now a new age is dawning. A faint glimmer of hope is on the horizon in Charlotte, and it grows by the minute. In Young, the Panthers have finally found their quarterback. “The Carolina Reaper,” as Young has been affectionately dubbed, provides hope for a Panthers program that heads into the offseason with big goals for next year.
Ice Cold Bryce
When it comes to clutch time, there is no better quarterback in the league. Since 2023, Young has 12 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime. That leads the league, ahead of future hall of famers such as Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.
The fact that the Panthers are always in close games can partially be attributed to Young’s generally inconsistent play in first halves. But once that fourth quarter rolls around, there is no one else in the league as deadly as Young. Having a quarterback with this “clutch gene” is a blessing that any team would love to have.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales will continue to work with Young on his consistency and decision making. However, the opportunities for Young to succeed will be plentiful. As he heads into his fourth season, Young is poised to make another leap. Panthers fans will also be hoping that Canales evolves his play-calling style to allow Young the chance to make more downfield throws to the ever-dangerous Tetairoa McMillan.
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Wide Receivers: Young but Talented
Another reason why the Panthers should have full trust in Young is because of his core group of receivers. This season, Young’s favorite targets became clear — Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker.
McMillan, the rookie sensation out of Arizona, proved to be worth every bit of his first-round status. The eighth overall pick had 70 receptions, 1,014 yards, and seven touchdowns during the regular season. Those 1,014 yards were good enough to set the Panthers rookie record for receiving yards.
The stud rookie displays everything you could want in a WR1 – strong hands, quick speed, and nifty route-running. The connection between him and Young is obvious on the field and provides the franchise with a rising star duo.
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Although McMillan gets most of the accolades and praises, no one on the field works harder than Young’s second favorite option, Jalen Coker. Coker was an undrafted free agent in 2024, but quickly rose to the occasion after the Panthers picked him up.
After impressing in his rookie year, Coker seemed primed for a year two breakout. A quad injury kept him out until week seven. Nevertheless, in eleven games he amassed 33 receptions, 394 yards, and three touchdowns. In the wild-card game vs the Rams, he hauled a massive touchdown pass to keep the Panthers in the game. Coker, now the clear WR2, will be another dangerous piece of the offense in 2026.
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Belief From the Fanbase
Heading into his fourth season, Young is finally winning over his doubters. His numbers have slowly progressed year-over-year. Passing yards, completion percentage, and touchdowns are up. Sacks are way down. The interceptions are still a work in progress.
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Young’s playoff debut against the Los Angeles Rams showed exactly what kind of quarterback he can be. He led his team by example on the sidelines when they were down by 14. He threw for 264 yards and a touchdown, and added his longest run of the season for a momentum-changing first-half touchdown.
Panthers fans have to appreciate that kind of performance and put their faith in Young for the 2026 season. If that happens, expect the results to follow.
With a young, exciting wide receiver core and a passionate fanbase behind him, Young looks to be on a track to success next season. The Panthers exercised Young’s fifth-year option to keep him around until 2027. A strong 2026 campaign would likely reward Young with a lucrative contract extension.
He has the opportunity in front of him, but he’ll have to earn it with his continued development.
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