A Disastrous Day in Detroit as Lions Get Payback on Panthers
DETROIT, MI - A year ago, the Carolina Panthers ran all over the Detroit Lions en route to a 37-23 victory on Christmas Eve. It's a game that Dan Campbell and the Lions have not completely erased from the memory bank. Sunday afternoon, they got their revenge, downing the Panthers 42-24.
Detroit wasted very little time putting points on the board, scoring on just their third offensive snap of the game. Jared Goff completed a 23-yard pass to Khalif Raymond and a 16-yarder to Marvin Jones Jr. before David Montgomery bounced a run to the outside and down the sideline from 32 yards out.
Turnovers proved to be costly in the first half for Carolina and the first of three came on an interception from defensive end Aidan Hutchinson who fought off a block from Ian Thomas, who was slipping out for a screen. A few plays later, Goff connected with rookie tight end Sam LaPorta on a play-action boot for the score.
On the following drive, Panthers rookie left guard Chandler Zavala had to be carted off the field and transported to a local hospital for further evaluation of a neck injury.
After taking a few minutes to collect themselves, the Panthers marched down the field for their first points of the afternoon thanks to an impressive series from Bryce Young, who completed 7-of-9 passes for 47 yards and a touchdown to tight end Tommy Tremble.
For a second, Carolina had some momentum by forcing a turnover on downs as the Lions tried to swing out a pass to the flat. Troy Hill sniffed it out and laid a big hit on Montgomery.
Instead of this being a game-changing play, Carolina made two crucial mistakes to allow Detroit to get some separation. Miles Sanders fumbled the ball on the first play immediately after the turnover on downs. Detroit faced another 4th down and this time, converted. Goff capped the drive with a touchdown pass to Josh Reynolds in the back of the end zone, tapping both feet inbounds before stepping out.
Young threw his second interception of the day to Jerry Jacobs on a really bad decision trying to get the ball to Jonathan Mingo. Detroit took a shot right away with a double-pitch reverse, resulting in LaPorta hauling in a 31-yard touchdown on a wheel route. Carolina tacked on a field goal just before the half to make it 28-10.
Late in the third, the Panthers' offense was backed up on the heels of their own goal line and intentional grounding by Bryce Young nearly resulted in a safety. Detroit got a quick stop and set up great starting field position with the ball near midfield. The Lions took their time working it all the way down to the one, setting up a Goff QB sneak for the score on the opening play of the fourth.
Bryce Young wasn't willing to go away quietly and tossed his second touchdown to the former Lion, DJ Chark, to make it a three-score ballgame. Detroit had an answer though, going to the ground game with Craig Reynolds, who toted the rock six times for 48 yards and a score to push the lead to 42-17.
Young pieced together one final scoring drive completing 6-of-9 passes for 56 yards with a touchdown pass to Adam Thielen. In his final two series of the game, Young went a combined 10/13 for 101 yards and two scores. Although it came in a blowout loss, it could lead to some confidence moving forward to next week's game in Miami.
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