10 quick thoughts from the Panthers win vs. Buccaneers in Week 7
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers’ defense came to play
The Carolina Panthers were in no mood to mess around on defense in Week 7. They were dominant almost for the entirety of the contest, taking advantage of a lethargic Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive unit that wasn’t really at the races in this one.
For all the problems surrounding Carolina, the defense continues to prove capable of great things. That’s why the front office must avoid the obvious temptation of trading away some of the better faces within this group.
P.J. Walker’s nice day
Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold are still working their way back from ankle injuries, leaving P.J. Walker under center for their second-straight week. An opportunity the former XFL MVP candidate was eager not to waste.
Walker performed much better and there was more trust from a scheme standpoint. Whether this nice day is enough for the Temple product to keep the No. 1 job is another matter, but it’s given Steve Wilks and his staff plenty to ponder before their Week 8 game against the Atlanta Falcons.
Carolina Panthers benefitted from Frankie Luvu’s return
Getting Frankie Luvu back into the lineup was a significant boost for the Panthers. The outside linebacker is an inspirational playmaker who spurs others on for good measure, which was once again evident versus the Buccaneers.
Luvu finished the contest with four tackles. But it was the lift he gave everyone that made the biggest impression of all.