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Carolina Panthers Notebook: QB Bryce Young Eager To Begin Building NFL Playoffs Reputation

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
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Carolina Panthers Notebook: QB Bryce Young Eager To Begin Building NFL Playoffs Reputation

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has a lot to live up to with former great Cam Newton possibly returning to Bank of America Stadium on Saturday.

The last time the Panthers hosted an NFL playoff game, Newton posted 382 total yards and four touchdowns during the 49-15 victory over the Arizona Cardinals during the NFC Championship Game.

Can the Panthers’ current QB come close to those marks?

He will need to come close at least for the underdog Panthers to upend the visiting Los Angeles Rams during Saturday’s NFL Wild Card matchup.

Through his three seasons as a starter, Young endured several ups and downs. The 2023 first overall draft pick proved this season that he can put up big numbers. Young broke Newton’s franchise mark for passing yards in a game when he threw for 448 yards during a Week 11 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Can Young start building his reputation as a playoff signal-caller Saturday? In the teams’ first encounter, a 31-28 victory by the host Panthers, who played one of their best game of the year. The Rams entered Week 13 as the NFC’s top-rated club.

Young completed 15 of 20 passes for 206 yards and made two clutch fourth-down, downfield throws. The Panthers’ offense also controlled the clock by rushing 40 times. The defense came through with three turnovers, including a pick-six by cornerback Mike Jackson.

“Confidence for us comes from within the building,” said Young, who has played with an injured ankle throughout much of the season’s second half. “We trust in each other. We know what we’re capable of. We’re not looking at anything external.

“We don’t need to look on the bulletin board to get us fired up. We don’t take this for granted at all. We’re grateful for the opportunity, but we’re very internally motivated as a team.”

Is Former Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton Returning?

Former quarterback Cam Newton, who guided the Panthers to the 2016 Super Bowl, will return to Bank of America Stadium on Saturday as a celebrity guest.

He will bang the Panthers’ iconic bass drum.

Is it more than rumor or Charlotte’s worst-kept wild card weekend secret?

“I heard about that … I heard that rumor,” Canales said Thursday. “For me, it’s just that we can use all the help we can get.\

“Talk about bringing juice, that momentum he can give. I think about Cam, I think of aura. The biggest big person, but it’s not just about his height, but also his personality.”

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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