Unfortunately, we won’t get the pleasure of seeing No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson playing inside of Bank of America Stadium on Sunday. So, no, the Carolina Panthers’ Great Quarterback Tour of 2023 won’t be coming full circle a week after matching up against C.J. Stroud.
That, however, doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of intrigue.
Here are the top storylines for Week 9’s clash between the Panthers and the Indianapolis Colts:
Twice for Bryce?
This year’s first overall pick ignited a bunch of firsts last Sunday.
Quarterback Bryce Young orchestrated the first fourth-quarter comeback win for the franchise since 2018, pushed the Panthers to their first win of the 2023 season and helped head coach Frank Reich earn his first win at the helm in Carolina. Oh, and he also won his first game as a pro.
The rookie was rock-solid, completing 22 of his 31 attempts for 235 yards and a touchdown while committing zero turnovers. He’ll have a pretty decent shot to chalk up a bunch of seconds in Week 9, especially against a pass defense that has given up the seventh-most yards per attempt (7.0) and the eighth-most passing yards per game (247.3).
Off to the races
In another first last weekend, or at least for the first time in a long time, the Panthers were stout against the run. Carolina held the Houston Texans to 110 yards on 30 rushing attempts, good enough for a 3.7-yard average.
This week’s opposition, however, may not be as stale. All-Pro Jonathan Taylor and backfield mate Zack Moss have formed a dynamic duo of late, combining for 293 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 59 carries (5.0 yards per attempt) over the last two weeks.
Can reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Week Frankie Luvu and crew hold it down once again?
This one's for Frank Reich
As much as he may not want the focus on him, Nick Sirianni’s good friend is going to be the center of attention on Sunday.
Reich will be facing his former employer—who, perhaps eerily, fired him after Week 9 of last season. He spent four and half seasons in Indianapolis, going a combined 40-33-1 with a pair of playoff appearances.
Will Reich get a better result out of this Week 9?
