Panthers at Lions
THE STORY: Two teams coming off their worst performances of the season will square off Sunday when the Detroit Lions host the Carolina Panthers. Detroit was racing toward a playoff berth after reeling off five straight victories to open the season, but it has stumbled back to the back with three losses in the past four games - including an embarrassing 37-13 defeat at NFC North rival Chicago a week ago. So while the Lions aren’t in “must-win” territory yet, Sunday’s matchup against the 2-7 Panthers falls under the can’t-afford-to-lose category. No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton had his worst game as a pro in last week’s 30-3 shellacking by Tennessee.
TV: FOX, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Lions -6.5, O/U 48.5
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (2-7): One thing that has defined Carolina’s season is its ability to be competitive in every game – until laying an egg last week. Newton finished with only 212 yards and failed to throw a touchdown pass for only the second time while being sacked a season-high five times. WR Steve Smith, the NFC leader in receiving yards, was limited to a season-low 33 while the running back tandem of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart continues to be maddeningly inconsistent – and unproductive. Newton was the team’s leading rusher against the Titans with 55 yards on seven carries.
ABOUT THE LIONS (5-3): Playing in high winds in Chicago, Detroit looked like a run-of-the-mill dome team. It coughed up a season-high six turnovers, including four interceptions by QB Matthew Stafford. Two of Stafford’s picks were returned for TDs to blow the game open. The Lions need to re-establish an edge at Ford Field, especially with undefeated Green Bay coming to town on Thanksgiving Day. Detroit has dropped two straight at home – to San Francisco and Atlanta – and has scored a combined three touchdowns in the losses. RB Jahvid Best (concussion) will sit out his fourth straight game, leaving Maurice Morris and Kevin Smith to carry the load.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Detroit’s Calvin Johnson leads the NFL with 11 TD receptions. His 40 scoring passes since the 2008 season are tops in the league.
2. Newton has seven rushing TDs, tying Vince Young (2006) for the most by a rookie QB since 1970.
3. The Panthers have won the last four meetings with the Lions, but have lost a franchise-record 11 straight road games.