The Detroit Lions head to Charlotte at 2-1, trying to clean up a defense that has been under the microscope while they get set for a Sunday Night Football matchup with the Carolina Panthers.
Detroit comes in after a 31-24 win over the New York Jets at Ford Field, and both of the Lions’ victories this season have gone down to the final possession. That kind of finish could easily be in play again against a Panthers team that is chasing its second straight NFC South division title.
This will be the first meeting between the Lions and Panthers since Oct. 8, 2023, and the setup points to a game with plenty of offense. Jared Goff has already shown he can pile up numbers this season, and another big night feels within reach.
He has topped 300 passing yards once, in the Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills, when he went for 327 yards and four touchdowns on 26-of-38 passing. Against a Panthers secondary missing key players, Goff should have room to push past 330 passing yards for the first time this year while helping Detroit to another tight win in primetime.
The Lions also have a path to a strong night on the ground through Jahmyr Gibbs. He was a major factor in the win over the Jets, rushing for 99 yards and two touchdowns, and he now gets a Panthers run defense that has struggled early this season.
Gibbs has already gone over 100 rushing yards once this year, finishing with 156 yards and two touchdowns in Detroit’s 31-30 season-opening win over the Saints. Another monster outing like that may be too much to ask, but clearing the 100-yard mark looks very much in play.
If the game opens up the way it appears it could, both teams may end up in the 30-point range. Detroit’s offense has been rolling, and its defense has left enough openings to make Carolina dangerous as well.
Bryce Young should have chances against the Lions’ secondary, particularly when targeting Tetairoa McMillan. Young is projected to top 250 passing yards, McMillan is expected to find the end zone, and the Panthers could still come up short in what turns into an offensive shootout.
In Other News...
Panthers Hit With New NFL Discipline Right Before Lions Game
The Panthers are dealing with a little added noise before their matchup with the Lions, as the NFL handed down fines to three Carolina players for penalties committed in Week 3 against Cleveland. A.J. Dillon was fined 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 will still have its full group available when it lines up against Detroit. Even so, the discipline serves as a reminder that the league is watching closely, and the Lions will face a Panthers team trying to keep its edge without letting the extra attention spill into Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Face A Sam LaPorta Question They Couldn't Settle
The Lions and Sam LaPorta have hit pause on contract-extension talks after several weeks of negotiations failed to produce a deal, a familiar sort of detour for a franchise that has not shied away from working on its own timeline. LaPortas side decided to step back for now so the tight end can stay focused on the season, leaving open the possibility that the conversation picks up again once the games are over.
For Detroit, the situation turns one of its most important young pieces into an offseason question again, even if the door is not closed. The team has a history of handling contracts during the season, and it would not be a surprise if it tries again to keep LaPorta in place long term, especially with the chance that any agreement could land him among the leagues highest-paid tight ends. [Read more 🡒]
Isaac TeSlaa Has A Real Chance To Build On Last Week
Isaac TeSlaa finally gave the Lions a glimpse of what he can add to the passing game last week, finishing with four catches for 66 yards against the Jets. For a second-year receiver still trying to carve out a steadier role, it was the kind of outing that can change how a coaching staff looks at the depth chart from one week to the next.
The next opportunity looks even more inviting against Carolina, which has already lost two starting cornerbacks to injured reserve. With Detroit likely looking to keep feeding TeSlaa after his uptick in involvement, betting analyst Drew Ellis is expecting him to top his receiving total from last week, a sign that this might be more than a one-game spike for a young player trying to force his way into the offense. [Read more 🡒]