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Just like they did to the Panthers on Sunday, the Bengals destroyed our Week 9 predictions.
*Sigh*
Perhaps we should just get right into this, folks.
Let’s revisit our Week 9 predictions for what was an ugly matchup between the Carolina Panthers and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Here’s why Panthers interim HC Steve Wilks is sticking with PJ Walker after a rough outing in Week 9.
Apparently, the Carolina Panthers are going to have to see more than just one bad day to replace PJ Walker.
On Monday, following his team’s disastrous Week 9 showing, interim head coach Steve Wilks told reporters that Walker will remain the starting quarterback heading into Thursday’s matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. So when asked why fans should believe in the decision, especially considering Walker’s particularly flat performance in yesterday’s 42-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Wilks gave this response:
“I would say, probably, trust the process,” he stated. “And trust my decision making. That’s what I would tell ’em. And, once again, we all have bad games. PJ wasn’t the only one. We gotta play on Thursday, I can everybody if we go off bad games.”
Touché.
While Walker was quite bad—as he completed just three of his 10 throws for nine yards and two interceptions before being pulled at the break—so was the vast majority of the Panthers. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a good outing from any player in a game where the team set a franchise-record for a halftime deficit and allowed one skill player to score five touchdowns.
As for Baker Mayfield, who would’ve been the next logical option for the starting duties in Week 10, he’ll once again serve as Walker’s backup.
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According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Panthers are expected to stick with PJ Walker for their Week 10 matchup against the Falcons.
Reports of PJ Walker’s demise may have been greatly exaggerated . . . according to a report by Tom Pelissero.
On Monday afternoon, the NFL Network insider tweeted that the Carolina Panthers are expected to start Walker in their Week 10 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
The #Panthers will start QB PJ Walker again Thursday night against the #Falcons, per source.
Baker Mayfield replaced Walker at halftime of Sunday’s blowout loss to the #Bengals and Sam Darnold was just activated from IR. But on a short week, Walker gets another shot.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 7, 2022
As Pelissero notes, Walker did not see the field after halftime of Sunday’s 42-21 shellacking at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals. By the break, one in which the Panthers faced a franchise-record 35-point deficit, the third-year passer completed just three of his 10 throws for nine yards and two interceptions.
His replacement in Mayfield went on to have a solid relief appearance, leading Carolina to three touchdowns over four drives. He completed 14 of his 20 attempts for 155 yards and a pair of scores.
Along with the short turnaround for Thursday, Walker’s Week 8 success against the Falcons may also be factoring in to the decision. He threw for a career-high 317 yards in Atlanta less than two weeks ago.
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For the second time this season, PFF has graded rookie LT Ikem Ekwonu as the Panthers’ top offensive performer.
Did Pro Football Focus find any gems for the Carolina Panthers in their ugly Week 9 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals?
Let’s take a look at the best and worst of their grades from Sunday.
One of the few bright spots on Sunday, Panthers WR Terrace Marshall Jr. has now reeled in nine catches for 171 yards (and his first career TD grab) over the last three games.
The Carolina Panthers were trounced on Sunday—early and often by a determined Cincinnati Bengals team. And unfortunately, the Week 9 outing ended up being a rude awakening for the visiting cats after some rays of hope in the two games prior.
So, as we highlight the many negatives from the loss, let’s also try to find some bright spots in this studs and duds installment.
After a flat first half from PJ Walker on Sunday, it could be time for Steve Wilks and the Panthers to turn the reins back over to Baker Mayfield.
The winds of change may be blowing for the feel-good story of PJ Walker and the Carolina Panthers after a disastrous performance in Week 9.
While former XFL standout stole many hearts in his three admirable starts, his fourth (and horrific showing) in Sunday’s 42-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals may keep him from getting to No. 5. Walker connected on just three of his 10 passing attempts for nine yards and two interceptions.
His outing propelled the Panthers to just 32 total yards in the first half, about five times less than the output of Bengals running Joe Mixon to that point. Carolina also trailed big on the scoreboard, hitting the break with the largest halftime deficit (35 points) in franchise history.
Then, Baker Mayfield was inserted to start the third quarter. And from there, the offense immediately started clicking.
Mayfield ended up leading scoring drives on three of his four offensive possessions in the relief appearance. He finished having completed 14 of his 20 throws for 155 yards and a pair of scores.
Interim head Steve Wilks, who (obviously) would not name a starter in his postgame presser, will have to make a tough decision. He’ll also have to make that quickly, with the Atlanta Falcons awaiting on a quick turnaround for a Thursday night showdown.
What could make this choice difficult is Walker’s career-high 317-yard passing output against this NFC South foe just two games ago. Heck, even Sam Darnold could throw his hat into the ring of this battle soon enough.
So, with each quarterback carrying his respective flaws—which all have outweighed their positives thus far—Wilks has an intriguing path to choose in the coming days.
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Did Panthers QB PJ Walker just let his starting job slip away after Week 9’s defeat to the Bengals?
What can you really take away from a defeat like the one the Carolina Panthers just suffered at the hands (or paws) of the Cincinnati Bengals?
Well, this . . .
Baker Mayfield returned to the field on Sunday, as the Panthers benched a struggling PJ Walker after facing a franchise-record 35-point halftime deficit.
Down 35-0 at the half of their Week 9 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, interim head coach Steve Wilks and the Carolina Panthers decided it was time to try and cook something else up. So, they called up (baking pun incoming) their local Baker.
Coming out of the break, the Panthers subbed Baker Mayfield in for a struggling PJ Walker. Walker—in his fourth straight start of the campaign—completed just three of his 10 passing attempts for nine yards alongside two touchdowns. (Yes, he had one more completion than he had picks.)
As a whole, the Carolina offense mustered up all of 32 yards. They recorded zero first downs, just 1.9 yards per play and 139 fewer yards than Bengals running back Joe Mixon did (171) by himself.
Mayfield, who was lauded for his recent role in support of Walker, enters having completed what’s currently a career-low 54.9 percent of his throws for 962 yards, four scores and four interceptions over five games.
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Can PJ Walker keep the Panthers offense purring on Sunday against the Bengals?
Believe or not, there was some talk about the Carolina Panthers being 2022’s version of the 2021 Cincinnati Bengals. But, at 2-6, it may be safe to assume they won’t be surprising anyone en route to a conference title game this winter.
Regardless, the Week 9 matchup between these cats do have some intriguing storylines. So, let’s check them out.
On Wednesday, Panthers interim HC Steve Wilks could not commit to naming PJ Walker as the team’s starting QB for the rest of the 2022 season.
The Carolina Panthers offense looks better than it has all season, and it’s not even close. Yet, they still don’t seem certain about who will definitely be under center beyond this weekend.
Following Wednesday’s practice, interim head coach Steve Wilks again confirmed that quarterback PJ Walker—who has started the last three games—will get the nod against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9. He couldn’t, however, commit beyond that.
“My philosophy, you guys have heard this, is about winning today,” Wilks said when asked if Walker will be the starter for the rest of the season. “And that’s just really staying with the day-to-day operation with each week. So I can’t really go beyond this week and tell you exactly what’s gonna happen next week. So, just staying in the moment with Cincinnati, and PJ’s the starter this week.”
Since replacing an injured Baker Mayfield with Walker, the Panthers have gone 1-2 while experiencing their two cleanest offensive performances of the year. After helping top the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7, Walker threw for a career-high 317 yards on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons—leading Carolina to their highest point total (34) since Week 10 of 2021.
Mayfield and Sam Darnold, who is still nursing a high-ankle sprain, will presumably remain as factors in the conversation as 2022 rolls on.
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