Detroit Lions’ Three Keys to Victory Over the Carolina Panthers

On Sunday, October 4, the Detroit Lions will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, and face the Carolina Panthers. Although Detroit is coming off of a big win vs. the New York Jets, this is not a game the Lions can overlook. This is the very definition of a trap game.

The Lions play in Ford Field, which is an indoor stadium. The Panthers play outdoors. The forecast is calling for rain, and outdoor teams have the edge. And make no mistake, the Panthers and quarterback Bryce Young can put up points, and with the Lions’ defense, they can’t afford to get into a shootout.

Even with all of these disadvantages, the Lions are favored to win for a reason. The Lions have an experienced and balanced offense, and they can exploit the Panthers’ defense. These are the Detroit Lions’ Three Keys to Victory Over the Carolina Panthers:

1- RUN THE FOOTBALL

This is going to be short. The Lions could have a track meet in Carolina this weekend. The Panthers are the worst rushing defense in the NFL. Through three games, the Panthers are averaging over 190 yards allowed on the ground and 580 in total. The Lions have Jahmyr Gibbs, who already has over 300 yards and 4 touchdowns. Enough said.

2- Blitz Bryce Young

Bryce Young deserves more respect. Currently, Young leads the NFL in yards and yards per game, with 939 and 313, respectively (ironic), and he has seven passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. Is he Josh Allen? No, but against this Lions secondary, he doesn’t have to be. His Panthers are averaging 29 points per game this season, and he could feast on the Lions’ backfield.

While his passing game is going to be an issue, his offensive line won’t be. The Lions have successfully collapsed the pocket with their defensive line and will need to do so to make life uncomfortable for Young. With players like Tyleik Williams crushing the run, the Lions’ edges can land home, and with their offensive line, good luck stopping Aidan Hutchinson. Look for the Lions to be aggressive on the line consistently this game.

3- Take Care of the Football

The Panthers are good at forcing turnovers. This season, the Panthers have three interceptions and four recovered fumbles. They can get to the ball and make plays on it. The 1-2 record isn’t indicative of how good this team is, and the Lions need to recognize this before Sunday. They may allow a lot of points, but the Panthers are also second in the league in turnovers. This will be a problem.

The good thing is the Lions take care of the football. So far this season, the Lions have only turned the ball over one time, and that was a fumble. The Lions are notorious for being stingy with the football, and if the Lions remain disciplined and reliable, they can take away the Panthers’ biggest strength on defense.

This is not going to be a walk in and take it game for Detroit. They have to earn this victory. The Lions have the play style to neutralize what the Panthers do best, but there is a smaller room for error than most would believe. Lions win, but there needs to be more respect for Carolina.