Even after what may have been his best showing as a pro, Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young wasn’t feeling all too great on Sunday afternoon.
What preceded the rookie’s somber post-game press conference was a 42-21 loss to the Miami Dolphins, one that moved his team to an 0-6 record. Young was asked at that presser if he was taking this defeat any tougher than the others.
“We’re all competitors,” he replied. “I think it builds up, it sucks where we’re at it. It’s not anyone’s goals. It’s fresh and it’s not where we wanna be. But regardless of that, I don’t think that this isn’t something that I don’t lose any confidence. I don’t feel any different about the team. We’re in a tough place and it’s difficult.
“But there’s no locker room, no group I’d rather be here with. There’s no group I have more confidence in to dig ourselves out of this.”
En route to their three-touchdown win, the Dolphins dug themselves out of a hole Young and the Panthers immediately put them in. The No. 1 overall pick headed two impressive scoring drives in the first quarter, which gave his squad a shocking 14-0 lead.
Carolina, however, simply flamed out. Miami punched back with 35 unanswered points to capture their fifth win of the season and deny the Panthers of their first.
Young finished the afternoon having completed 23 of his 38 passing attempts for 217 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. He displayed the poise and playmaking ability he was heralded for in college and put forth the most positive outing of his NFL career.
But now, Young and that locker room have to get themselves out of that tough place—no matter how much it may suck.
