PJ Walker connects with DJ Moore for Panthers’ first offensive touchdown in seven quarters

CHARLOTTE — DJ Moore ‘s 20-yard touchdown catch from Carolina Panthers quarterback PJ Walker with 29 seconds left in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was good enough on its own. Moore had to time his steps perfectly to catch the bullet from Walker in the back of the end zone to give Carolina a 7-0 lead.

But what made it more significant was it the first Carolina offensive touchdown in seven quarters going back to the third quarter of an October 9 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

PJ to DJ! @Panthers take the lead before halftime.

📺: #TBvsCAR on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/YUSlriyzbx pic.twitter.com/7pwR1IMbtX

— NFL (@NFL) October 23, 2022

And it kept this from being the first time since a 2019 game between the 49ers and Washington Commanders that neither team scored.

For Walker, it made him 3 of 4 with a touchdown pass on throws of 20-plus yards in the air for the afternoon, one week after his average completion in a 24-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams was minus-2.5 yards. Since entering the NFL in 2020 as a former XFL star he was 5-for-21 with no touchdowns and three interceptions on such throws.

The grab was Moore’s his sixth catch for 59 yards. He entered the day with only 20 catches in six games.