Bryce Young Slams Helmet as Panthers Collapse Against Familiar Foe

Just a week after blanking the Falcons 30-0 and giving fans a rare reason to believe, the Carolina Panthers reminded everyone just how steep their rebuild still is. Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots was an outright collapse, and with the third quarter winding down, Carolina trailed 35-6 - a score that tells the story better than any box score breakdown.

This wasn’t just about offensive struggles or defensive breakdowns - it was failure across the board. Offense, defense, special teams - each unit took turns unraveling.

And at the center of it all, second-year quarterback Bryce Young could be seen on the sidelines, helmet in hand and clear frustration written across his face. It’s the second time this season he’s been caught venting this way, and honestly, it’s hard to blame him.

Let’s be clear: Bryce Young has not been perfect. But on a day like today, he’s far from the only issue.

His stat line - 15-of-26 for 129 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and an 83.7 passer rating - doesn’t tell the full story. Young missed rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan on multiple deep attempts, which may be fueling some of that visible frustration.

But the breakdowns around him are just as glaring.

Start with the protection. The offensive line has struggled to keep Young upright all season, and this game was no exception.

He was under pressure early and often, forced to make plays behind a collapsing pocket. Then there’s the receiver group - a unit that looked flat and disconnected, failing to consistently create separation or come down with contested throws.

The chemistry just isn’t there.

And you’ve got to look at the sideline, too. Head coach and offensive playcaller Dave Canales hasn’t found a rhythm as a play designer, and that lack of identity is showing through each possession.

There’s no clear vision, no sustained momentum, and no sense of control. For a young quarterback trying to find his footing, that kind of instability makes development even harder.

To Young’s credit, he’s not folding. He's still reading defenses, pushing the ball downfield, and showing flashes of the poise and mechanics that made him a star under Nick Saban at Alabama.

But this isn’t Tuscaloosa. The windows are tighter, the hits are harder, and the margin for error is razor-thin - especially when the supporting cast isn’t helping.

It raises the question Panthers fans and front-office execs don’t want to confront: is this lack of progress about the pieces surrounding Bryce Young, or is the leap from college to the NFL just proving too steep?

That’s not a conclusion anyone wants to reach in Year Two of a No. 1 overall pick’s career. And it doesn’t have to be final - there's still time, still games to play, still moments to evaluate.

But days like today don’t build confidence. They test it.

Carolina walked into Foxborough with a sliver of momentum. They’ll leave with more questions than answers - again.