Most coaches would have pulled the plug after a 59-37 shellacking, but Dave Canales did the opposite. He kept Bryce Young on the field for the entire game against the Chicago Bears, a decision that defies all logic given the score.
The Panthers gave up 291 yards on the ground alone, a number that would make any defensive coordinator weep. Yet Canales and play-caller Brad Idzik refused to take the ball out of Young’s hands. They let him lead the team even when the situation looked dire. This was not a panic move. It was a calculated bet on the former No. 1 pick.
The Numbers Behind the Trust
Young finished with 361 yards and three touchdowns in that loss. Those are elite numbers for a quarterback playing in a game where his team surrendered 59 points. The offense moved the ball, even if the defense could not stop the run. Young was benched for Andy Dalton two seasons ago by the Panthers. That context makes this choice even more shocking.
Per Yahoo Sports, Canales and Idzik continued to be aggressive throughout the game. They trusted Young to be the man to lead the team. This signals a long-term commitment that goes beyond just a single week. The coach is betting that Young has the skills to turn this around.
The Bears offense was a different beast entirely. D’Andre Swift was named the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Week after his performance. Caleb Williams earned a FedEx Air and Ground Player of the Week award as well. The Bears showed they have the firepower to score at will. The Panthers need to match that energy, and Young is the only one who can do it from the pocket.
But the defense has work to do. The unit allowed over 550 yards of offense in Week 1 against the Bears. That is a massive hole to fill. The offense cannot carry the team forever if the other side of the ball keeps giving up points. The gap between the two units is wide and getting wider.
Canales knows the stakes. He saw the potential in Young’s 361-yard day. He saw the three touchdowns. He decided that the young quarterback needed to learn from the adversity rather than be shielded from it. That is a hard lesson, but it is the only way to build a winner. The Bears will be waiting next week, and they will be hungry for more.
The Panthers have to find a way to stop the run and protect their own lead. If they do not, the 59 points will be a repeat.
