The Carolina Panthers may not have won, but their close 30-27 loss to the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday has first-year coach Dave Canales feeling hopeful about the team’s future.
Canales has good reason to be excited. The Panthers (3-8) have come a long way since their first two games, where they were outscored 73-13. After the tough loss, Canales said players were disappointed in the locker room for “letting an opportunity slip away,” but he believes the team can sense the progress they’re making. He likes the team’s determination and effort.
“We are becoming us,” Canales said. “We’re becoming a style of football that we want to pride ourselves on. We took care of the football. Defensively, we got after it … I think that the guys can feel what we’re trying to get done philosophically.”
Canales was so pleased with the effort that he gave his players the day off on Monday, a gesture usually reserved for after wins.
One of the main reasons the team has improved is the performance of quarterback Bryce Young. Young made several important plays when it mattered, helping the Panthers rally from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game. Unfortunately, Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs on a game-winning drive in the final minutes.
Young finished the game completing 21 of 35 passes for 263 yards, one touchdown, and no turnovers.
In a change from his usual routine, Canales confirmed that Young will be the starter again next Sunday against Tampa Bay.
“I just saw him playing decisive and it comes with confidence in knowing his guys are going to be where they’re supposed to be when they’re supposed to be there,” Canales said.
“You saw a bunch of back foot throws where he knew somebody was coming open and the anticipation, all that comes from the chemistry just building over these weeks. I was really excited to see some of those things come alive.”
Despite the progress, Young is still just 4-18 as an NFL starter, and Canales didn’t go as far as to say that Young has secured his place as the franchise quarterback.
“That’s really far in the future,” Canales said. “Right now, I’m just looking to build off this week, have another solid week of practice, bring the guys back together and just attack the basics, the fundamentals right now.”
