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Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers reached the NFL Playoffs last season by winning the NFC South, and with that success comes a tougher schedule in the upcoming season.
Among the teams they play are the NFC North winners, the Chicago Bears, their division rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, the Detroit Lions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Green Bay Packers, and the Denver Broncos.
The 2023 No. 1 pick appeared on ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” where he was asked about facing such a challenging series of opponents and how the team will prepare for it.
“For us, we just have to chase our best. Again, it’s a day-to-day process. We have a ton of respect for everyone you just named and everyone on our schedule, but that’s down the line. If we start looking ahead this early, that’s when we’re not able to be at our best, so it’s on us to stay where our feet are and chase our best,” Young said.
“Obviously, when those challenges come around, we’ll focus on them week in and week out,” he added.
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Young has been in the league three years now and said he’s had “ups and downs” in his career but has learned the importance of “consistency.” He said it’s important to maintain the person he is in the locker room and on the field, so he seems to have his priorities right as the team leader heading into this campaign.
“You mentioned the past, but for us, we know that doesn’t entitle us to anything. This year, everyone starts at ground zero. We have to earn the right to want to be our best and work for our best … That’s what training camp’s all about, so we’re really excited to start,” Young said.
The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner is coming off a season in which he threw for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, with a 47.6 QBR. He had a particularly brilliant Week 11 game, throwing for a franchise record 448 yards and three touchdowns when the Panthers beat the Falcons in overtime, 30-27.
Last season, Carolina showed the ability to defeat other contenders in the league, including the Los Angeles Rams and Packers. They’ll need more of the same with their upcoming schedule, due to the increased difficulty, as the NFL is full of teams hungry for the playoffs.
Among the teams not even mentioned during ESPN’s discussion with Young about Carolina’s schedule are the Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, and Seattle Seahawks. All three could be potential playoff contenders in the coming season.
In February, DraftKings Sportsbook released team win totals for the NFL. According to USA Today, the Panthers were listed at 6.5 wins, with the over favored.
Carolina opened their training camp this week at Bank of America Stadium, with the veteran players arriving on Wednesday. They’ll open their regular season schedule on Sunday, Sept. 13, with a challenging home game against Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears.
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For more about the NFL, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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