Week 16 in the NFL saw Jayden Daniels pull off an upset, Bo Nix struggle, and a new NFL QB remind the league of his presence.
Luke Kuechly knows a thing or two about what to look for when watching quarterbacks. The Super Bowl 50 linebacker put in quite a bit of time dissecting NFL quarterbacks when he was with the Carolina Panthers.
As such, his impressions rank much higher than the average viewer. Following Week 16, there were plenty of stories to choose from, whether it was the Philadelphia Eagles losing for the third time in four months or the Bengals getting in range of causing a playoff upset. The Dallas Cowboys always find themselves in the spotlight as well.
Instead of only focusing on those stories, he talked about the other story quietly developing in the background.
Luke Kuechly on what he’s seeing
Speaking on a December 23 edition of “Up and Adams,” Super Bowl 50 linebacker and former member of the Carolina Panthers Luke Kuechly spotlighted Bryce Young, who appears to finally be clicking with his offense.
He assessed: “He’s playing inside the pocket a lot more than he did early in the year. And obviously [on Sunday] he was able to scramble and extend some plays with his feet, obviously scored the big rushing touchdown. But his ability to stay in the pocket and deliver a great ball… is unbelievable.
“I think he trusts that offensive line a lot more than he did at the beginning of the season,” he said.
Of course, the sudden arrival still has a long way to go before erasing most of the last two years completely. Young threw for 11 touchdowns and ten interceptions in 2023. He currently has ten touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2024, per Pro Football Reference.
Unpacking Carolina Panthers’ explosive offensive showing
The Panthers saw Bryce Young deliver his best performance of the season, but it wasn’t just him. Running back Chuba Hubbard delivered 152 yards, two touchdowns, and a 6.1 yards per carry average.
As such, the Cardinals’ defense was forced to cover both dimensions of the Panthers’ offense. This helped Young dissect the defense and throw to the open receiver. Young also rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown, sprinkling in the cherry on top of an impressive day.
Kyler Murray was productive himself, but his critical interception was the fatal mistake. Murray completed the day with two total touchdowns and an interception. Another aspect that helped seal the Cardinals’ fate was an injury sustained by James Conner, who had racked up 15 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown.
