Apart from their lone bright spot, a 30-0 shutdown victory over the Atlanta Falcons, the Carolina Panthers have been nothing short of disappointing. Their week 1 was not only a setback but a mirror reflection of the season-opener curse. It has dropped Carolina to 1-7 in openers over the past eight years. So, it’s not about patterns anymore. But the recurring breakdowns that halt momentum and sow doubts for the fans.

And the fans? They have had enough. According to the Bleacher Report, “The podcast announced they can no longer ‘justify’ the time spent away from their wives and children on Sundays.”

The hosts, Jerry and Steve, also announced that they want to leave the show on a high note. They expressed their gratitude to the listeners, supporters, and guests. Well, without a playoff sniff since 2019, their burnout is justified.

But this hasn’t been the first time that the Panthers have left their fans in disarray. In 2023, after a 16-13 loss to the Chicago Bears, the supporters even planned a protest march in disappointment with the team’s performance.

The event, dubbed “March on Mint,” was scheduled outside the Bank of America Stadium. But the group organising the march later called it off due to another event at the venue.

Though the event did not take place, but the frustration kept brewing among the fans. From Bryce Young‘s inefficiency to defensive breakdowns and an offense with no balance, the Panthers are trapped in the same frustrating loop.

In his four outings, Young managed 753 yards with a 60.4% connection. He racked up 5 touchdowns and committed 5 turnovers. This is a disheartening start for the 2023 NFL draft top pick.

Bryce Young faces a harsh truth

After being benched for veteran Andy Dalton in 2024, Bryce entered this season with something to prove to the front desk. But instead, Panthers are sitting at a disappointing 1-3 record.

While analysts haven’t completely written off Young, they pointed to the Panthers’ history for players to thrive after leaving Carolina. Including Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield, Saad Yousuf, an NFL reporter for The Athletic, said, “Maybe the same happens for Young, but it’s getting tougher in Year 3 to build a case for him.”

The window of redemption is small, maybe a couple of games. This two-game audition can be a future decider for Young, and if he cannot put the scoreboard running, head coach Dave Canales could be forced to explore other options as well. Young’s struggles in the past are also too hard to ignore, which build his “exit resume”.

Against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Young went 18 of 35 for 154 yards. A week later, against Atlanta, where everyone displayed great prowess, he just managed 121 yards with no touchdowns.

Young ranks 23rd in passing yards, 29th in passer rate, and 27th in QBR. According to AP’s Steve Reed, he owns the third-worst record in NFL history among quarterbacks with at least 30 starts. With all these numbers on the clipboard for the Panthers, they might look for potential alternatives.

This is where Dalton could step up. Though he is 38 years old now, he seems far from a long-term answer. Another option that the team could explore is Hendon Hooker, recently signed to the practice squad after being waived by Detroit in August. A third-round pick in 2023, Hooker debuted last year for the Lions. But despite all these options, all eyes are on Young; if he can still flip the script, or the next two games can be the end of his future with the Panthers.