4 major observations from PJ Walker’s performance vs. Bucs in Week 7
By Dean Jones
What were some major observations from Carolina Panthers quarterback PJ Walker’s performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
The Carolina Panthers were heavy underdogs for their Week 7 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But quarterback PJ Walker and his teammates were in no mood to roll over versus their NFC South divisional rivals at Bank of America Stadium.
Walker got the start with Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold working their way back from ankle injuries. This was seen as his final opportunity to impress interim head coach Steve Wilks, which he managed to accomplish in no uncertain terms.
The former XFL MVP candidate turned in arguably his best performance in a Panthers uniform as the hosts moved to 2-0 within their division thanks to a comfortable triumph. Carolina is now just one game behind, so all hope might not be lost in terms of the unlikeliest of divisional titles.
With that being said, here are four major observations from the performance of Walker versus Tampa Bay.
Major Observation No. 1
Confidence in PJ Walker
If their Week 6 game plan at the Los Angeles Rams indicated almost no confidence in PJ Walker’s ability, then Sunday’s game was a completely different story. Offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo called his best game since joining the Carolina Panthers, allowing his quarterback to be creative and move the football downfield quickly.
This is something Walker relished, looking far more comfortable than he’s been previously. The former Temple star and McAdoo deserve credit for the way they applied themselves throughout an impressive victory that keeps them right in the hunt despite their 2-5 record.