Panthers' Bryce Young takes 'full ownership' for brutal mistake in 'MNF' loss to 49ers

The Carolina Panthers were facing a 7-0 deficit with under 90 seconds left in the first quarter of their "Monday Night Football" game at the San Francisco 49ers when Carolina quarterback Bryce Young took a first-down snap at the San Francisco 1-yard line. 

Young then tossed a brutal interception when he seemingly could've attempted to run the ball in for a touchdown. Following the 20-9 defeat that dropped the Panthers to 6-6 on the season, Young discussed his poor decision in that moment of the contest. 

Bryce Young "should have made a better decision" at key moment

"Good play by DB, can't put the ball in peril like that, especially in a situation like that," Young acknowledged, per Darin Gantt of the Panthers' website. "Take full ownership, that's on me. I have to do a better job making decisions. Again, it's on me, and we'll wear it for these 24 hours, and then we'll turn the page. Again, it's no one's fault but mine. That's part of the position. Again, not fun, but you know, it is what it is. Should have made a better decision with the ball. I take ownership in that."

That play tells just part of the story regarding how Monday was a missed opportunity for the Panthers. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy threw three interceptions in the game's first half, but Carolina managed to score only a single offensive touchdown that was tallied late in the third quarter. 

Meanwhile, the Panthers could've leapfrogged the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South standings. Instead, a 6-5 Tampa Bay side that may be without starting signal-caller Baker Mayfield (injury to non-throwing shoulder) for some time remained in first place. 

What Bryce Young feels he must do differently 

In total, Young completed 18-of-29 passes for 169 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions against the 49ers. Shortly after Monday's game wrapped up, Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated wrote that "it's time for the Panthers to move on" from Young. There's no indication that head coach Dave Canales will make a quarterback change for Carolina's home game versus the Los Angeles Rams (9-2) this coming Sunday. 

"I've got to do a better job executing," Young responded when asked what the Panthers must do differently coming off Monday's defeat. "Obviously, I've got to take care of the ball. I've got to do a better job of making plays go today. I take all ownership in that, and we have a locker room of guys that do that. So, you know, we've just got to be better." 

As of Tuesday morning, ESPN BET had the Panthers as massive 10.5-point underdogs against the Rams.