Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young added another feather to his cap Sunday, joining franchise icon Cam Newton in a select statistical fraternity after guiding the team to a 32-26 win over the Detroit Lions in its first “Sunday Night Football” appearance since 2016.
Young completed 29 of 41 attempts for 329 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, finishing with a 110.7 passer rating. His 70.7 completion percentage was a season best, while the performance marked his fifth career 300-yard passing game and second of the season.
The outing also put Young in rare company. He became only the second quarterback in Panthers history to record at least 300 passing yards, two touchdown passes and zero interceptions in a primetime game, joining Newton. Young also entered rarefied air in franchise history, becoming just the fourth quarterback to complete at least 70% of his passes while throwing for 325-plus yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, a feat previously accomplished by Newton, Jake Delhomme and Steve Beuerlein.
The 2023 No. 1 overall pick has been brilliant so far season. He leads the NFL (ahead of Monday Night Football) in passing yards (1,268 yards), passing first downs (63), completions of 10-plus yards (55), and completions of 25-plus yards (13). He's also leading in passing yards under pressure (411), passing touchdowns under pressure (four), deep passing yards (321), and passing touchdowns outside the numbers (seven). He is tied for third in passing touchdowns (nine).
Young opened the game by completing his first 11 passes, becoming the first Carolina quarterback to do so since Teddy Bridgewater in Week 10 of 2020. He has now thrown for at least 250 yards and one touchdown in each of the Panthers' first four games.
Article Continues BelowHis nine touchdown passes are also the most by a Carolina quarterback through four games in franchise history, surpassing the previous mark of eight set by Kerry Collins in 1998 and Jake Delhomme in 2007.
Young's connection with Tetairoa McMillan was central to the victory. The second-year wide receiver caught 14 of 16 targets for a career-high 192 yards and two touchdowns. McMillan produced nine catches for 147 yards in the first half, including a 32-yard touchdown. He joined Steve Smith Sr. and Patrick Jeffers as the only Panthers players with at least 10 receptions, 150 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a game.
Running back Chuba Hubbard added 122 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries as Carolina scored on four of its next five possessions after its opening punt and scored on six consecutive drives overall before halftime.
The Panthers improved to to 2-2 with the win heading into their bye week. They also became the first team in franchise history to score more than 30 points in three of their first four games, with their 121 points through four games setting another team record.

