Know your opponent: How Dan Campbell-led Detroit Lions match up with Panthers
A little under a year ago, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell marched to midfield in Bank of America Stadium and gave the Carolina Panthers their due.
“That was an absolute ass kicking,” the colorful Campbell told Steve Wilkes, who was then the interim coach for Carolina. “That’s a (expletive) great job.”
Campbell said this moments after Carolina notched its sixth win of 2023, a 37-23 triumph where the Panthers outrushed the Lions 320 yards to 45 yards and earned a rare win in the turnover battle margin.
There’s no question this Panthers team is different than the one at the end of the 2022 season. And this Lions team is a bit different, too.
Here’s what you need to know about the Panthers’ Week 5 opponent.
Lions’ rushing offense formidable
It’ll take something not-too-short of a miracle for the Panthers to edge the Lions on the ground like they did 10 months ago. That’s both a compliment to Detroit and an indictment on Carolina.
Let’s start with Detroit. The Lions are tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns (with six) and 10th in rushing yards (with 546) in the league heading into Week 5. They have a two-headed backfield in David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Both of whom have over 150 yards rushing through four games. Montgomery, specifically, had a monster game last week — 32 carries for 121 yards and three touchdowns — and will look to break through a Carolina defense that has given up a sixth-worst 545 yards through four weeks.
As for the Panthers’ run game? Despite running the ball 31 times, Carolina only accumulated 83 yards on the ground last week. That’s been a trend for a while, and it won’t be easy to buck it at Ford Field: The Lions boast the best rushing defense in the league (243 total rushing yards allowed, 3 yards per carry).
Assessing Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff
Panthers head coach Frank Reich said it himself on Monday: Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has found a way to make every part of the Lions’ attack dynamic — from its goal-line grit to its vertical explosions.
“It all stems off their ability to run the football,” Reich said.
The stats back that assertion up.
Per a story in The Athletic earlier this year, the Lions ran play action with Jared Goff at quarterback on 27% of his throws in 2022 — and he ranked as the most efficient play-action quarterback in the NFL.
Similar trends have followed in 2023. Buoyed again by an impressive running game and a Pro Bowl receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown and other weapons, the Pro Bowl quarterback has completed 91 passes on 131 attempts for 1,029 yards and six touchdowns and three interceptions. That yards tally — which averages to just over 257 yards a game — is a Top 10 stat in the league.
Goff’s eyes might be lighting up ahead of Week 5. The Panthers’ secondary, after all, is badly bruised. Jaycee Horn is still gone. So is veteran safety Xavier Woods. Donte Jackson sustained a shoulder injury in Week 4 and is listed as questionable for Sunday.
All this said, it’s worth noting, too, that the Panthers held the NFL’s at-the-time most prolific passer, Kirk Cousins, at bay last week. Cousins’ stat line: 12-of-19 for 139 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions.
Panthers offense vs Lions pass rush
The Panthers might have trouble with most defensive fronts they face this year. The Lions won’t serve as a reprieve.
The Lions are tied for eighth in the league with most sacks at 13. Aidan Hutchinson, the team’s 2022 draft pick, has 3.5 of them — followed by defensive tackle Alim McNeill out of N.C. State (with two sacks) and defensive end Charles Harris (with 1.5).
The Panthers have struggled to keep Bryce Young upright through three games. The best (worst?) example of this came last week, when the Panthers allowed five sacks — all in the second half, including two in the final three plays.
Fantasy football sleepers: Panthers vs. Lions
DJ Chark, Panthers WR: Panthers fans have been clamoring for deep shots for weeks. And if any will come, they’ll likely flow through Chark, the Panthers’ default deep threat who is making his return to Ford Field on Sunday. Starting Chark on your fantasy team is a bit of a gamble as he only has 15 targets and seven receptions on the season. But he ranks second on the team in receiving yards. If Carolina prioritizes airing it out, Chark will be the beneficiary.
Adam Thielen, Panthers WR: Thielen, particularly in a PPR league, is gold. He’s been targeted a team-best 33 times and caught a remarkable 27 passes through four games. His short-yardage reliability is an asset for a team that hasn’t yet proven its explosiveness.
David Montgomery, Lions RB: As mentioned, Montgomery absolutely went off last week. Smart fantasy football owners would start him again. Here’s a snapshot of how running backs have fared against the Carolina defense: Bijan Robinson of Atlanta (10 carries for 56 yards, plus six catches for 27 yards and a touchdown); Kenneth Walker III of Seattle (18 carries for 97 yards and two touchdowns, plus 59 yards receiving); and Alexander Mattison of the Vikings (17 carries for 95 yards).
Sam Laporta, Lions TE: Laporta has notched the team-second-most amount of receptions (22) and yards (242) behind St. Brown. He could be a mistmatch nightmare much like Kyle Pitts was in Week 1 (who made plays when the ball was tossed his way).
