Jermaine Carter learned on Saturday he would get the start over injured middle linebacker Tahir Whitehead (ribs). He played 55 percent of the snaps (31) and had four tackles, one on future Hall of Fame running back Adrian Peterson that stands out the most.
Matt Rhule called the decision to sit QB Teddy Bridgewater on Sunday the "hardest individual decision I've had to make in terms of game day.'' It truly went down to the wire because Bridgewater wanted to play and was cleared medically. As for whether Bridgewater's replacement, P.J. Walker, solidified himself as the clear No. 2 QB, Rhule isn't ready to say.
Matt Rhule has talked about the “process'' that he feels is so important to success since the day the Panthers hired him. The completeness of Sunday's 20-0 victory over Detroit was a glimpse of how he'd like to see the process work consistently in terms of complimentary football. He even called it “a process win.''
Panthers coach Matt Rhule seems more optimistic that QB Teddy Bridgewater (knee) will play Sunday against Minnesota than RB Christian McCaffrey (shoulder). “I would expect Teddy to practice on Wednesday and we'll take it from there. He was cleared to play yesterday, so I would assume he will be ready to go on Wednesday. Christian, we'll take it week to week.''
Field, Stephania, Daniel and Kyle discuss the latest news around the league, recap Week 11 and preview Monday Night Football.
Snap count observation: Coincidence or not, the Panthers played their best defensive game of the season without middle linebacker Tahir Whitehead playing a snap. To be fair, Whitehead was limited in practice last week with a rib injury. He also hasn't graded out well this year, according to Pro Football Focus.
Safety Tre Boston kept referring to Sunday's 20-0 win, the Panthers' first shutout since 2015 during the run to the Super Bowl, as a “brand win.'' So what is the brand? “We're the toughest, hardest working team in the league,'' Boston said.
P.J. Walker's mother, Tamicha Drake, had a dream a year and a half ago when Walker was at Indianapolis that he would get his first NFL start for the Carolina Panthers. “Life has come full circle. That dream came true. Mine did, too,'' Walker said.
The Panthers recorded their first shutout since 2015 and ended a five-game skid as they won without Teddy Bridgewater and Christian McCaffrey.
Panthers WR Curtis Samuel said his touchdown celebration was him playing a video game. Call of Duty, actually. When I told him it looked more like he was reeling in a fish he laughed and said he'll have to work on that.
Panthers coach Matt Rhule said when he watched Teddy Bridgewater work out pregame game "he moved like 80 to 85 percent.'' He said team doctors cleared Bridgewater to play. Rhule feels it is his job to protect players from themselves, which is why he went with P.J. Walker.
Matt Rhule said "everyone'' agreed Teddy Bridgewater was ready to play with the injured right knee, but in "my gut I didn't think it was the right thing to do.'' So Rhule started P.J. Walker and was rewarded with a 20-0 victory that ended Carolina's five-game losing streak.
The Panthers end a five-game losing streak with a 20-0 victory over Detroit with backup QB P.J. Walker running the show. But perhaps the bigger news than Walker is the defense recorded its first shutout since 2015 and handed Detroit it's first shutout since 2009. Yes, the Lions are missing a lot of offensive weapons. But still a good sign for Phil Snow's unit.
Missed 51-yard field goal attempt by Lions preserves Panthers' shot at a shutout. The last time that happened was December 13, 2015, a 38-0 win against the Atlanta Falcons during Carolina's Super Bowl run.
The Panthers took a two-touchdown lead in the third quarter as Walker made a perfect throw on a corner route to Samuel, who scored his fifth TD in the last five games.
Panthers WR DJ Moore certainly has developed a quick chemistry with P.J. Walker. He has seven catches for a season-high 127 yards. His career high is seven catches for 157 yards against Detroit in 2018. Seems the common denominator here is Detroit.
P.J. Walker gets his first NFL touchdown pass to a wide-open Curtis Samuel. That was as much a product of a bad Lions' defense as anything, but Samuel's celebration was worth a second look. He appeared to be fishing.
Since QB P.J. Walker started 6 of 8 for 105 yards he did little, completing only seven of his next 14 attempts for 52 yards. The Panthers lead 7-0 at halftime because the Detroit offense, missing several key pieces, has been non-existent with 89 yards against a defense that hasn't stopped any team.
Undermanned Lions making the Carolina defense look like the "Steel Curtain'' so far. Detroit has punted three times, more than the Panthers' last four opponents -- combined. Tampa Bay, Kansas City, Atlanta and New Orleans combined for two. Lions have 70 yards and no points.
P.J. Walker's first mistake is a big one, a pick in the end zone on third and goal from the 3. Really a bad pass that the defender had all the way. This against a bad Detroit defense. So the jury is still out on the Panthers' former XFL star, who had 15 touchdowns and four picks during a 5-0 start for Houston.
P.J. Walker off to a good start for the Panthers. His 52-yard pass to D.J. Moore helped set up a touchdown run by Mike Davis. He's 6-for-8 for 105 yards. He also has a 2-yard run. Showing why he was chosen over Will Grier to replace Teddy Bridgewater, although Detroit defense is so bad either might have done well.
| TEAM | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | 295 | 222 |
| Tampa Bay | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | 296 | 226 |
| Carolina | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | 253 | 272 |
| Atlanta | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | 252 | 275 |
| RD(PK) | PLAYER | POS | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1(7) | Derrick Brown | DT | Auburn |
| 2(6) | Yetur Gross-Matos | DE | Penn State |
| 2(32) | Jeremy Chinn | S | Southern Illinois |
| 4(7) | Troy Pride Jr. | CB | Notre Dame |
| 5(6) | Kenny Robinson | S | West Virginia |
| 6(5) | Bravvion Roy | DT | Baylor |
| 7(7) | Stantley Thomas-Oliver III | CB | Florida International |
