Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers’ offense went toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, ultimately falling to the reigning Super Bowl Champions, 30-27, after a 33-yard walk-off field goal by kicker Spencer Schrader.
There have only been three quarterbacks to put up more than 25 points against the Chiefs’ top-five defense – Joe Burrow, Josh Allen and now Bryce Young.
Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes had high praise for the former overall number one draft pick after the contest.
“I think he did a heck of a job,” Reid said when asked about Young’s performance. “Well coached. He’s lucky to have that redhead over there, No. 14, too to help him out. Nothing like a veteran player that kind of sees it the same way you do. Then he’s very talented and the organization made a nice move by taking him.”
“I thought he played his tail off,” Mahomes said. “He throws a really good football. I think Texas Tech was the first one to offer him when he was in eighth grade,and I was at Texas Tech. I remember watching his highlight tapes then. I knew he was going to be a great player and obviously he went to ‘Bama and was the first draft pick.”
“It’s been cool to see him bounce back the last few weeks and play some great football,” Mahomes continued. “I know he has it, because I’ve seen it for a long time. He gave us a scare today, because he played his tail off.”
After the close loss Panthers’ head coach Dave Canales, who has been hesitant to name Young the starter without watching tape from the previous game, didn’t hesitate when asked if Bryce will start when Carolina hosts the Buccaneers this week.
“Absolutely,:” Canales said.
“I don’t have to make any statements. He’s making it for himself,” he continued. “He’s continued to show us the progress we’re looking for – bringing our skill players to life. Xavier [Legette] played the X position today, so just kudos to Xavier as well for taking on a new role and finding some success there. A couple plays he’d love to have back, I’m sure. He’d be the first to tell you. But talking about Bryce, again, it’s the coaching staff, it’s his teammates. He’s showing us what he can do when he’s out there.”
Young finished the game completing 21 of 35 passes for 262 yards, with one touchdown and zero interceptions.