Bryce Young breaks Cam Newton passing yards record in career-best day for Panthers
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Bryce Young had a record-breaking day for the Carolina Panthers, and it came at the expense of a former bitter SEC rival.
The former Alabama star quarterback threw for 448 yards on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, breaking Cam Newton’s single-game team passing yards record in the process. You might remember that Newton played at and starred at Auburn, so even though Young and Newton played in the SEC at different times, that Alabama-Auburn rivalry knows no bounds when it comes to time periods.
Newton’s previous Panthers passing yards record was 432 yards, which he set in 2011 during his prolific rookie season in Carolina. Newton was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after that magical 2011 season, which included that very prolific day when he threw for those 432 yards.
Well, records are made to be broken, and 14 years later that single-game mark was broken by a former Alabama quarterback, of all people. Even better for Young, his special performance on Sunday came in a thrilling, 30-27 overtime victory in Atlanta that lifted the Panthers to 6-5.
Young went 31 of 45 on Sunday with 3 touchdown passes and 0 interceptions, so those record-breaking passing yards came during an efficient performance that produced a very important victory for Carolina.
After the game, Young spoke to reporters about what it meant for him to break Newton’s long-standing record, highlighting how much respect he has for what Newton accomplished during his career.
Young is in his 3rd season in Carolina after playing at Alabama from 2020-22. He captured the Heisman Trophy during the 2021 season.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
