CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Starting consecutive games for the first time in his career, PJ Walker never dreamed he’d quarterback opposite Tom Brady, never mind take a one-score lead into halftime against the all-time great.
But Walker rose to the challenge, tossing as many touchdowns in the first half (1) as he had incompletions against Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday.
Behind a bulldozing offensive line (which featured center Bradley Bozeman making his first Panthers start), Carolina rushed for 173 yards and never trailed against the defending NFC South champs, winning 21-3.
Filling in for former Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey — who made is San Francisco 49ers debut Sunday — D’Onta Foreman had a game-high 118 rushing yards on 15 carries. Chuba Hubbard started the game and added 63 yards on nine carries and a touchdown.
Despite reports that quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield both could return next week against Atlanta, Walker demonstrated why he should be the team’s starting quarterback in Week 8. He finished with 173 yards on 16 of 22 passing. Most importantly, he smoothly executed interim coach Steve Wilks’ game plan and did not turn the ball over while beating Brady.
The Panthers (2-5) are the only undefeated team in the NFC South.
Carolina was a 13-point home underdog going into Sunday. Yet, the Brady comeback everyone expected never materialized. Instead, Carolina doubled its halftime lead late in the third quarter when Foreman and Hubbard combined for 77 yards and a touchdown on two carries. Foreman took an inside rushing attempt 60 yards on the team’s longest play. Then, Hubbard hit a cutback lane score the very next play, putting Carolina up 14.
Last week, Walker completed one pass beyond the line of scrimmage. Against the Buccaneers, he pushed the ball downfield with confidence. Star receiver DJ Moore benefited most from Walker’s aggressiveness. The two connected for a toe-tapping 20-yard touchdown prior to halftime for the Panthers’ first score. Moore led the team with seven catches for 69 yards and a touchdown.
Tampa Bay did not score until the fourth quarter. With 13:38 left to play, kicker Ryan Succop made a 27-yard field goal to cut the Panthers’ lead to 11. The drive took Brady 14 plays, nearly five minutes and traveled 67 yards.
The Buccaneers were determined to score on their opening possession of the third quarter. Brady and receiver Mike Evans connected for 40 yards on three catches as Tampa Bay found a rhythm. But the Panthers’ run defense stuffed running back Leonard Fournette on consecutive plays when he only needed one yard. Linebacker Shaq Thompson and cornerback C.J. Henderson tackled Fournette behind the line of scrimmage on fourth-and-one, forcing a turnover on downs on the Panthers 25-yard line.
The Panthers defense held the Buccaneers to 2-of-12 on third down and 1-of-3 on fourth down.
Tampa Bay ran 23 third-quarter plays and gained 124 yards, but was held scoreless.
In the first quarter, the Panthers’ offense dropped their opportunity to start fast.
On his first play from scrimmage, Carolina quarterback PJ Walker launched a 45-yard yard pass intended for second-year receiver Terrace Marshall, who opened behind the Buccaneers’ secondary. Marshall slid under Walker’s pass but lost control as he went to the ground.
The play was initially ruled a catch, but later was overturned on a Tampa Bay challenge.
Marshall earned an expanded role after the team traded Robbie Anderson to Arizona last week. He made up for the drop later in the second quarter by converting a third-and-five on a 20-yard catch down the right sideline. Walker squeezed a Cover 2 hole shot between the Bucs cornerback Zyon McCollum and safety Antonie Winfield Jr. Windfield hit Marshall hard on the catch but the former LSU Tiger held on.
Marshall finished with two catches for 31 yards.
Both teams had a case of the early drops. Evans dropped what would’ve been a 64-yard score on the game’s third play. Evans beat cornerback Donte Jackson on a post route. He tracked Brady’s pass for what felt like minutes, only to drop the easy score.
Tampa Bay outgained Carolina 79 yards to 18 in the first quarter. Through seven games, the Panthers defense has allowed 13 first-quarter points which is tied for the fewest in the league. On Sunday, the
Carolina did not pick up its first down until the 13:30 mark of the second quarter but finished with 14 compared to the Buccaneers 17 first downs.
Getting pressure on Brady helped Carolina control the Buccaneers offense.
During the week defensive end Brian Burns said he wanted to sack Brady. The two have played each other four times and Burns had yet to sack the future Hall of Famer. With four minutes to play in the half, Burns beat tackle Tristan Wirfs with rush move that teleported him directly in front of Brady. He swallowed Brady for the 16-yard loss and showcased his signature Spider-Burns move in celebration.
Burns sack encapsulated how the Panthers’ defense frustrated Brady all afternoon. Carolina hit Brady three times and sacked him once.
Carolina will face the Falcons next week in Atlanta for a chance at first place in the NFC South.
