Grading Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young’s week five performance against the Miami Dolphins.
After suffering a brutal loss to the New England Patriots in week four, the Carolina Panthers were able to bounce back last week and defeat the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, 27-24.
The main facilitator for the offensive production came from running back Rico Dowdle, who managed to tally 206 rushing yards and one touchdown on 23 carries. However, if it weren't for some late-game magic from quarterback Bryce Young, the Panthers would not have been able to pull away with the victory against the Dolphins.
Carolina’s third-year quarterback did not get off to an ideal start, as Young fumbled and threw an interception in his first two drives of the contest. This resulted in a 17-point deficit for the Panthers in the second quarter. Luckily for the offense, Young cleaned up his play, leading him to finish with 198 passing yards and two touchdowns.
In his fifth start of the 2025 season, the former No. 1 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft displayed strong composure within the pocket in the last three quarters of the contest, completing multiple anticipated throws that led to success on offense. This included a huge touchdown throw with less than four minutes left in the first half to former 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette as he squeezed the pass into a tight window that only his wideout could catch.
His impressive play continued into the second half, as Young did a terrific job of keeping the ball out of harm's way while moving the ball downfield. During the team’s last drive in the fourth quarter, Young made a huge 24-yard completion to Legette with another tight-window look while on the move.
Grade: B-
Similar to his week two performance against the Arizona Cardinals, Young would easily have received an A for his efforts in week five if it were not for his two mistakes at the beginning of the contest.
When Young is playing at his best, it’s clear that this team can win on a consistent basis. His ability to remain strong within the pocket while excelling in the short and intermediate game is perfect for head coach Dave Canales and his offense. And with the addition of rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, Young now possesses a weapon that can help him with the deep ball.
Moving forward, the front office must prioritize acquiring additional playmakers to support their franchise quarterback. McMillan is clearly the Panthers’ top wide receiver, but outside of the talented rookie, there still remains a lack of weapons that Young can rely on in the passing game.
If Carolina can find consistency out of the run game and form their pass catchers, this would allow Young to eliminate the blunders he makes at the beginning of contests.
There have been multiple times this season where the Panthers’ quarterback struggles in the first quarter, which puts the team at a disadvantage for the rest of the game. But if Young can cut down on these mistakes, the franchise will be on a better path in the future.