Maximum effort is the least Steve Wilks deserves in Panthers finale

A massive effort from everyone within the Carolina Panthers is the least Steve Wilks deserves in Week 18 at the New Orleans Saints.

It’s been quite the experience for Steve Wilks this season. This initially came as defensive backs coach before the Carolina Panthers fired Matt Rhule, which thrust him into a prominent leadership position with little momentum to build upon.

This was a team going nowhere fast before Wilks took charge. A task made more difficult by the decision to trade Robbie Anderson and Christian McCaffrey before the deadline.

Wilks has done a fantastic job with a lousy hand. He’s restored a sense of belief within the locker room and belonging across the fanbase, which has also seen plenty of notable wins secured to further enhance his credentials.

While the Panthers came up short against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers when the pressure was on, that should not detract from examining the bigger picture where Wilks is concerned. Although team owner David Tepper will cast his net far and wide in pursuit of making the right appointment at the second time of asking.

One doesn’t have to look too far for glowing references. The likes of Derrick Brown, Shaq Thompson, and Bradley Bozeman have all spoken publicly about their desire for Wilks to extend his stay as head coach, but leaving one final positive impression at the New Orleans Saints in Week 18 is of paramount importance.

Carolina Panthers owe Steve Wilks a big performance in Week 18

Many fans are looking at draft standing rather than picking up a seventh win of the season as the most important thing. The Panthers won’t gain anything but bragging rights over division rivals if they emerged successful, but Wilks is keen to keep his team focused and competitive right up to the final whistle.

After everything Wilks has done for Carolina football this season, a maximum effort from top to bottom is the least he deserves.

Some will already be planning their offseason vacations on both sides, one suspects. However, if the Panthers players truly believe Wilks is the man to lead them long-term, they have to keep plugging away in the hope it can convince Tepper to remove the interim tag when the time comes.

It’ll be interesting to see things unfold at The Caesars Superdome, which could be the last time we see Wilks at the helm. Whatever comes next for the former Arizona Cardinals head coach, he can look back on the time coaching his hometown team with a great sense of accomplishment.

Wilks won’t be short of job offers if Tepper does go in a different direction. But the Panthers must ensure he gets the right send-off with commitment throughout the contest after such an impressive turnaround over the second half of 2022.

There are some huge upcoming decisions for Carolina this off-season. Rhule left behind an ungodly mess and took no accountability for his inept methods, but those in power have an easier job thanks to Wilks’ fine work.

And who knows, one more top performance without much motivation could tip the scales in Wilks’ favor when it’s all said and done.