5 Carolina Panthers on the hot seat at Saints in Week 18

Steve Wilks – Carolina Panthers interim HC

Last weekend’s defeat and the news surrounding Jim Harbaugh’s meeting with David Tepper means it’s been a difficult few days for Steve Wilks. The interim head coach should remain under strong consideration to lead the Carolina Panthers beyond 2022, but it’s clear there will be many other candidates brought in before anything official is confirmed.

Had he steered the Panthers through their fourth-quarter collapse more effectively in Week 17, this conversation would be moot. Carolina could have taken charge of the NFC South with one game remaining, but they are now staring down another campaign of mediocrity despite an impressive resurgence since Wilks replaced Matt Rhule.

Sunday’s game at the New Orleans Saints will tell us plenty about how much the Panthers players believe in Wilks. The appears obvious based on Carolina’s complete culture shift, but fighting for every inch with nothing on the line is sure to leave a mark on Tepper before the interview process begins.

Anything less than maximum effort won’t be tolerated by Wilks. Nor should it be after all the hard work he’s put in to restore respectability across the franchise.

This could be the last time Wilks coaches his hometown team. So he’ll want to conclude what’s been a successful stint as interim with one final divisional triumph on the road.