The Carolina Panthers ran for a team-record 320 rushing yards in their Week 16 win over the Detroit Lions. It was a very impressive performance from RBs D’Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard, who each set career-highs in rushing yards in the game.
It was also a case of taking what the Lions defense was giving them. Despite the substantial success from the Panthers’ very first run of the game, the Lions never once added an extra presence to the box to try and curb the onslaught.
The folks behind NFL Next Gen Stats, Zebra Technologies, laid out that tidbit at the end of a very disturbing (for the Lions) exposé on the sheer dominance of the Panthers’ run game in Week 16,
In the 1st half of Saturday’s game alone, the Panthers gained +130 rushing yards over expected, the most by any team in a 1st half over the last 5 seasons. Chuba Hubbard contributed 109 yards on 6 carries (+72 RYOE) and D’Onta Foreman chipped in 104 yards on 10 carries (+52 RYOE) just in the 1st half. The duo finished the game with a combined +139 RYOE (Foreman with +76, most this week, and Hubbard with +63 RYOE, 2nd most). Foreman finished the game with 165 rushing yards (most this week) while Hubbard gained a total of 125 on the ground (3rd most). Neither of the 2 RBs faced a stacked box on a single carry.
The Lions and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn never added a third LB to the mix or stacked the box with more than the standard front six (the Lions use a base 4-2-5 defense). Even after being gashed for well over 200 yards in the first half, the Lions defense refused to commit more resources to stopping the run. It’s a curious decision, to be sure.
