On offense, the Detroit Lions were without perhaps their finest player and a dynamic rookie.
Detroit did not falter.
Jared Goff threw three touchdown passes in the first half and ran for another in the fourth quarter to help the Lions beat the winless Carolina Panthers 42-24 on Sunday.
Despite losing receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit scored at least 27 points in successive first half for the first time in club history and exceeded 20 points for the 14th game in a row.
“These guys who have been asked to step up are making plays,” stated Lions coach Dan Campbell. “We’re not getting any drop-off.”
For the first time since 2016, the NFC North-leading Lions (4-1) are alone atop the division in October or later, and they have won 12 of their previous 15 games going back to last season.
“It’s no secret, the Lions have been playing good football for 15 games,” offensive lineman Taylor Decker, who earned his 100th start for the club, said.
The Panthers (0-5) fumbled the ball over three times in the first half, two on consecutive possessions, allowing Detroit to score three touchdowns and take a 28-10 advantage into halftime.
“We knew they had an explosive offense, but we made it far too easy for them,” said Carolina coach Frank Reich.
In the first half, Carolina rookie quarterback Bryce Young was intercepted twice, and Miles Sanders fumbled.
Young, the first overall choice, completed 25 of 41 passes for 247 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. In three starts, the former Alabama standout had two touchdowns, two interceptions, and two lost fumbles.
“It doesn’t matter what success I had in college,” Young went on to say. “I’m no different than anyone else on the team at this point.”
Goff completed 20 of 28 passes for 236 yards, and his 1-yard sneak early in the fourth quarter put Detroit up 35-10.
“I like where his confidence is right now,” Campbell remarked. “He was on fire.”
With 109 yards running, David Montgomery became the first Lion since Kevin Jones in 2004 to run for 100 yards and score in two successive games. In the first half, rookie tight end Sam LaPorta grabbed two touchdown passes.
Aidan Hutchinson of Detroit intercepted Young’s short throw in the first quarter, becoming the first NFL defensive lineman with four interceptions in his first two seasons.
Young’s 1-yard touchdown throw to Tommy Tremble helped the Panthers overcome a 14-0 hole. On the subsequent possession, Carolina stopped Detroit on fourth down.
Any potential momentum was halted by turnovers.
The Lions ran a reverse flea-flicker, and Goff found LaPorta wide open for a 31-yard touchdown to put the Lions up 28-7 late in the first half.
THE DULL ROAR
Lions receiver Jameson Williams had a pass go through his hands after returning from a four-game ban for gambling.
Williams had two 2 yard receptions and a critical block on Montgomery’s scoring run.
“This is all I expected,” Campbell said. “He’ll get a few more plays next week.”
HE IS PLAYING HIS ROLE
Adam Thielen, a veteran Carolina receiver, equaled a season record with 11 receptions and 107 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown grab late in the lopsided game.
INJURIES
Panthers: After being carried off the field with a neck injury late in the first quarter, rookie OG Chandler Zavala was conscious and able to move all extremities at a hospital. “We think it was a bad stinger, but our medical staff is always going to take every precaution to protect our players,” Reich was quoted as saying. Starting cornerbacks Xavier Woods (hamstring) and Donte Jackson (shoulder) did not play.
CB (Lions) In his Detroit debut, Emmanuel Moseley (knee) departed the game in the first quarter due to an injury. In the third quarter, RB Zonovan Knight (shoulder) was injured… St. Brown (abdomen), Gibbs (hamstring), and DB Brian Branch (ankle) was out.
WHAT COMES NEXT
Panthers: Visit Miami on Sunday.
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