Uh, there’s a ton going on at Bank of America Stadium this Sunday. There’ll be a marquee matchup under center, a new man calling the plays and a couple of legends even taking their rightful place in franchise lure.
For that and more, check out our top storylines for the Week 8 showdown between the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans:
No. 1 vs. No. 2
It’s not always fair to compare and they won’t technically be “matching up,” but Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud will go head to head on Sunday.
The careers of these two rookie passers will always be intertwined, much like they were even before this past spring. From their middle school days in the Snoop Youth Football League, to sharing the stage at the 2021 Heisman Trophy presentation and to going back-to-back atop the 2023 NFL draft—the No. 1 overall pick and the No. 2 overall pick are forever connected.
Week 8 marks their first showdown in the pros. Or, if you’re into origin stories, perhaps it’s a sequel to when Young’s Inland Ducks smashed Stroud’s Sonoma Steelers in eighth grade.
Either way, we’re in for a treat when these two talented quarterbacks (and friends) give us a glimpse into the future of the NFL.
...and don't forget about No. 3
Young and Stroud won’t be the only premier picks of the 2023 draft taking the field in Charlotte. In fact, they’ll be joined by the man who went right behind them.
Stroud’s current teammate in Houston and Young’s old buddy from Tuscaloosa, defensive end Will Anderson Jr. is not to be overlooked. The third overall selection has garnered a ton of attention from opposing defenses already, as he’s posted the third-highest pass rush win rate in the league (30 percent) despite facing double teams on a quarter of his attempts.
So, it’s unfortunate that Young and Anderson Jr. may have to reunite under some competitive and potentially hurtful circumstances. Oh, and it might be particularly unfortunate for Young considering the early pass-protecting struggles of left tackle Ikem Ekwonu and the questionable status of right tackle Taylor Moton.
Regardless, history awaits. This’ll mark the first time in the common draft era that all three of the top overall picks share a field in the very same year that they were selected in.
What can Brown do for you?
When Young does take the field, he’ll be doing so under the guidance of offensive coordinator Thomas Brown—who was given control of play-calling duties before the team’s break. So, what should we expect to see?
Well, if you’re a buyer of coach speak, there may not be too many differences. Brown himself has stated that the preparation and process of the offense will not change much, even with him now fully in charge.
The switch may, however, result in a smoother operation on the sideline and in the headsets. Although the philosophy might not break new ground, the Panthers should be gaining some comfortability with more experience and more defined roles—for both Brown and Young.
Running their own races?
Like Young and Stroud, the Panthers and Texans are a bit intertwined here in 2023, stemming specifically from their busy offseasons.
Both, obviously, have taken their shots with rookie quarterbacks. Heck, Carolina jumped Houston in the queue back in March to get their pick of the litter.
They’re both also under some new management with head coaches Frank Reich and DeMeco Ryans. Oh, and if you want it to get even juicer, Ryans had reportedly turned down the Panthers’ request to interview him for the gig in January.
Now, these two franchises have ventured off into two different paths since then. Houston has jumped out to a very respectable 3-3 mark while Carolina remains as the NFL’s only winless team at 0-6. But, as Young alluded to in the comparisons to Stroud, it’s about running your own race.
So hopefully for Reich and company, they start running on Sunday.
