The most notable thing in a season opener in franchise history is how the Carolina Panthers' new playcaller, offensive coordinator Brad Idzik, introduced himself to the NFL. And it already looks like he's unlocked a side of this offense that was desperately lacking previously.
Many fans doubted his ability when Idzik was announced as the new man calling the shots for Carolina's unit. After lackluster preseason outings, the move raised concerns, but Week 1 against the Chicago Bears gave the anxious fans much-needed clarity.
For the first time in quarterback Bryce Young’s career, he looked like what his resume describes in a season opener.
Brad Idzik's aggressive approach helped Carolina Panthers offense find their groove
Even with the run game struggling, the passing attack was high-powered, totaling 361 yards and three touchdowns. Young and Carolina have seen this level of success before, but how they got there was uncharted territory.
Idzik was aggressive, calling an offense that made downfield passes a non-negotiable. And the dynamic completely shifted for the better.
According to Next Gen Stats, Young tied seventh league-wide with Bears quarterback Caleb Williams in completed air yards at 8.7 yards per completion, up from his career average of 6.0.
Young also threw the fourth-longest pass in air distance on his 51-yard touchdown to wide receiver Jalen Coker, which traveled 53.4 air yards.
While he did have an interception, Young was elite when targeting pass catchers 20-plus yards downfield. The Alabama product had four attempts, completing two for 71 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
Passing deep wasn’t the only positive. Young also returned to form over the middle under Idzik's guidance.
Brad Idzik and Bryce Young can become a deadly duo for the Carolina Panthers
While last season was a struggle targeting pass catchers between the numbers, Young had thrived in that area in previous years. In Week 1, he showed that last season was an aberration.
Young was flawless over the middle, completing 10 of 11 passes for 139 yards. Idzik made it an emphasis to stress the middle of Chicago’s defense, forcing the linebackers to contest passes to the likes of Coker, Darren Waller, and Tetairoa McMillan.
And it worked.
While Chicago's defense was sometimes in a decent position, an aggressive Young showed them that a perfect offense will always beat a great defense, fitting multiple throws into tight windows for chunk completions.
Per Next Gen Stats, Young was the eighth-most aggressive quarterback with an aggressiveness percentage of 16.2, finishing just ahead of two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.
Finishing with 486 total yards, 361 through the air and 125 on the ground, Idzik is off to a good start. But there are still some areas to clean up.
Carolina was only 4-of-9 on third down. Chicago was 10-of-14 in the same scenarios. The run game also started slow, barely eclipsing 30 yards in the first half.
Still, the offense exceeded expectations. If the Panthers can brush up on a few minor details, Idzik's group could be a sleeping giant offensively in the NFC.
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