Panthers (0-4) at Lions (3-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, Ford Field, Detroit
TV: Fox
Spread (BetMGM):
Lions by 9
Panthers’ keys to victory: QB Bryce Young needs to be efficient but also try and attack more downfield with ex-Lions WR DJ Chark and WR Adam Thielen. The Lions defense is vulnerable over the top and penalty-plagued on deep routes. It would help the defense if LBs Frankie Luvu and Brian Burns got more consistent help creating pressure. The defense needs to create takeaways to ease pressure on the offense. A specialteams touchdown like Carolina got in Week 4 from S Sam Franklin would be huge, too.
Lions’ keys to victory: Detroit has to continue to dominate the first-down rushing attack on both offense and defense. Strong run defense on the early downs sets up Detroit to unleash the pass rush and get creative in coverage behind DE Aidan Hutchinson and DT Alim McNeill. On offense, success running the ball with RB David Montgomery and RB Jahmyr Gibbs on early downs frees QB Jared Goff to take more shots down the field. Goff and rookie TE Sam LaPorta have already developed a great connection, but the Panthers defense has been good against opposing TEs early in the season.
Matchup to watch: Lions’ Hutchinson vs. Panthers LT Ikem Ekwonu. The two top-10 picks from the 2022 NFL draft will face off at times. Ekwonu has struggled with penalties and quickness vs. lesser talents than Hutchinson. If Ekwonu can’t hold his own, Carolina has little chance.
Who wins? Dan Campbell’s Lions are playing great on both sides of the ball and are rested after a Thursday win in Green Bay.
Lions 33-16