How Panthers QB Bryce Young had another breakthrough against the Giants

Bryce Young made another serious step in development against the New York Giants.

Sep 22, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) watches from the sidelines against the Las Vegas Raiders in the second half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Bryce Young has struggled in a few different aspects of the NFL game so far in his career. The transition from college to the NFL proved to be a big one for him, and he was eventually benched. One of the biggest issues he had was completing passes against zone coverage for the Carolina Panthers.

Entering Week 10 against the New York Giants, Young had never thrown a touchdown against zone. In fact, he'd had nine interceptions against zone on 444 passing attempts. Whatever he did in preparation or has done over the last few weeks since starting again worked. He finally suceeded against this coverage.

Bryce Young finally exorcised zone coverage demons

Interesting Milestone Alert (via @ZebraSports): #Panthers QB Bryce Young “completed 10/12 passes against zone coverage for 85 yards, including his 1st career TD against such coverage. Entering WK10, Young had thrown 0 touchdowns and 9 INTs on 444 attempts against zone coverage.”

— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) November 13, 2024

For whatever reason, Bryce Young had trouble with the zone. His struggles were well documented, but they all went away against the Giants in Munich. Young looked like a totally different passer: 10/12 for 85 yards and a touchdown against the zone.

The touchdown came on an improvisation play by Young. He climbed the pocket and faked out a rusher before moving to his right and lofting a pass over the middle to Ja'Tavion Sanders. He had found the opening in the back of the zone and made the catch for his first career touchdown.

It's the sort of play, in many ways, that Young just wasn't making before. If he can continue to play like that and continue to play well against the zone, he could be on his way to becoming that franchise QB the Panthers thought he was.

- Enjoy more free Panthers coverage with Carolina Panthers on SI - 

Panthers need to follow Colts example with their QB1 decision

Panthers hit the trenches in three-round 2025 NFL mock draft

What Steve Smith said about the Chuba Hubbard extension

Panthers predicted to move on from long-time veteran in 2025