Week 4 has the Carolina Panthers and Detroit Lions heading in opposite directions, at least on paper. Detroit looks like a playoff team with bigger ambitions, while Carolina, fresh off a 2025 NFC South title, is still trying to survive the injury grind that has hit hard since training camp and through its Week 5 bye.
That backdrop is why Ryan Matthews of Pride of Detroit didn’t exactly sound rattled when talking through the Lions’ current state. He answered five questions about Detroit, and the message was pretty clear: the Panthers are walking into a team that has dealt with plenty of its own problems, but not enough to make anyone in Detroit feel vulnerable.
The biggest issue on the Lions side has been the secondary. Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, once viewed as the NFL’s top safety duo, are still on the PUP list after season-ending injuries last year. Detroit’s defense has been picked apart through the air in three straight games, and while the cornerbacks haven’t helped much, the absence of both safeties has made things even rougher.
Detroit also lost Avonte Maddox, who had earned a role after re-signing to compete for a spot. He was used at free safety, box safety and nickelback before going on injured reserve in Week 2.
Thomas Harper, another player who had played his way into the mix, also landed on IR after an ankle injury against Buffalo. That has pushed veteran Chuck Clark into the single-high role, with safeties coach Jim O’Neil trusting him there.
Next to him is Christian Izien, who made a strong season debut against the Jets last week. Izien had been slowed by a groin injury late in camp, but in Week 3 he led the Lions with 11 tackles and finished second on the team with four defensive stops.
As for the Panthers, they won’t be seeing Cade Mays back this weekend after the freak wrist injury he suffered early in camp.
On offense, Detroit is already working with a second coordinator since Ben Johnson left for the Chicago Bears, but the early signs under Drew Petzing have been encouraging. The Lions have scored 31 points in three straight games, and Jared Goff has looked comfortable operating the offense and making the right checks. The line has also steadied itself after dealing with injuries to Christian Mahogany at left guard and rookie Blake Miller at right tackle.
Still, there are a couple of things Matthews wants to see cleaned up. He pointed to some of the red-zone and goal-line decisions, including a first-down rollout for Goff near the end of the half against the Jets that went nowhere and a fade to Amon-Ra St.
Brown that ended in a touchdown. His preference would have been to lean harder into the run game, force the Jets to use their timeout and stay on schedule with Detroit’s aggressive four-down mindset.
He also mentioned the run calls on second-and-10, especially against Buffalo, where it felt like the defense knew what was coming but Detroit kept sticking with it anyway and wound up in too many third-and-long situations. Even with those nitpicks, the sense is that the offense is in a better place than it was a year ago.
When asked about the Lions’ close calls against the Saints and Jets, Matthews pushed back on the idea that those were soft wins. He noted that New Orleans beat Baltimore on the road and nearly beat a 3-0 Raiders team, while the Jets were only a few clock-management mistakes away from being 2-1 themselves. In his view, Detroit has been dealing with opponents that can cause real problems.
As for Jahmyr Gibbs and the weather, Matthews said Gibbs figures to be ready no matter what conditions show up Sunday.
And on the question of whether Detroit is headed for a comfortable win, Matthews didn’t buy into the idea of a blowout. He pointed to the Panthers’ explosive passing game, their improved run defense against backs over the last two weeks and the possibility of Devin Lloyd returning.
His read: this could turn into a shootout if the weather allows, but it should stay tight. A Lions win by less than one score wouldn’t be a surprise, and neither would a Panthers upset at home after a disappointing Week 3 loss.
In Other News...
Panthers Hit With New NFL Discipline Right Before Lions Game
The Panthers are dealing with a little extra league paperwork heading into their Lions matchup, with the NFL handing down fines to three players for infractions from Week 3 against the Browns. A.J. Dillon was penalized for a facemask, Lee Hunter for unsportsmanlike conduct tied to taunting, and Thomas Incoom for unnecessary roughness involving helmet use.
None of the three was suspended, so Carolina avoids a bigger hit to its depth chart. Still, the fines are a reminder that the Panthers physical edge has to stay within the leagues lines, especially with another tough opponent waiting and every roster spot carrying added weight. [Read more 🡒]
Former Panthers QB Andy Dalton Just Took A Tough Turn In Philly
Andy Daltons run in Philadelphia has taken an awkward turn, with the Eagles set to hand the backup quarterback job to Tanner McKee. For a veteran who arrived with plenty of experience and a clear understanding of what it means to be a steady No. 2, the change comes after Dalton was in the mix for the role and had already seen the field this season.
The decision follows a recent interception that appears to have shifted the competition, and it leaves the Eagles with four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. McKee has also appeared in games this season, so this is not just a depth-chart formality, but a meaningful move in a crowded room where every snap has carried some weight. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Prime-Time Matchup Comes With A Weather Concern Fans Should Watch
The week 4 slate brings a familiar kind of football anxiety for Panthers fans, with Detroits trip to Carolina landing on a Sunday schedule that could be shaped by the sky as much as by the matchup itself. The broader forecast also has eyes on the Rams-Eagles game in Philadelphia, but for Carolina the focus is on how the conditions at kickoff in Charlotte may affect a home game that already carries plenty of attention.
The latest outlook calls for rain and possible storm impacts across several of the weekend games, and the Panthers prime-time slot is among the ones worth watching closely as Sunday turns into Monday around the league. With kickoff times, venues and weather all part of the equation, this is the kind of small pregame twist that can change how a game feels before the first snap, even if the on-field stakes stay the same. [Read more 🡒]