Opportunity knocks for the Carolina Panthers and quarterback Bryce Young. A win against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football will put this team atop the NFC South with five games remaining. Head coach Dave Canales' squad is a heavy underdog, but that's just the way they like it.
Young doesn't carry an injury designation into the contest after reaggravating his ankle injury against the Atlanta Falcons. The signal-caller toughed it out to spearhead a memorable overtime victory. This will be more challenging, but confidence is high that the Panthers can at least put up an intense fight.
The Panthers haven't enjoyed many games with the national spotlight glaring in recent years. This is their most significant in terms of what's at stake, and one NFL analyst urged Young to seize the moment to cement his status as Carolina's franchise player moving forward.
Bryce Young can prove his worth as Carolina Panthers' franchise player
Matt Johnson from Sportsnaut thought Young would never get a better chance to show the NFL world how far he's come. The Niners are challenging opposition to overcome, but they are also missing some influential defenders. If the game plan is right, it's something the former Alabama standout could take advantage of.
"There’s a golden opportunity awaiting the Carolina Panthers to close out Week 12. A win could put them in the driver’s seat for the NFC South. A win also feels critical for the team’s playoff hopes, given the Panthers’ schedule moving forward includes the Rams, Seahawks, and Buccaneers (twice). If Bryce Young wants to be Carolina’s unquestioned starting quarterback in 2026, now is the time for him to deliver."Matt Johnson
There are still five games to get through after this, but it does seem like a pendulum swinger.
The Panthers have momentum on their side. They have won five of their last six, and everyone in the locker room believes big things could be in their immediate future. There is no greater example of this than Young, who is coming of age and displaying the gifts that made him the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Young and the Panthers are prone to occasional collapses. They are still learning, and bad outings will happen from time to time. This is arguably the highest-stakes NFL game he's played in so far. He was involved in plenty of such occasions in college, but this is entirely different.
It's the perfect opportunity for Young to prove beyond all doubt that he has arrived. If he manages to lead Carolina to yet another road win versus playoff-caliber opposition, who knows what this franchise and its signal-caller might be capable of down the stretch.