This is not what any Detroit Lions fan wanted for Christmas. The Lions laid a giant lump of coal on the frozen field of Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Christmas Eve, getting blown out, 37-23, by the host Carolina Panthers.
The first half was embarrassing. Detroit’s offense was out of sync, with QB Jared Goff staring down throws — Carolina’s defensive line swatted down three passes. The run game managed just 21 yards on 12 carries, with eight of those coming on WR Kalif Raymond’s early end-around. And the offense was the better of Detroit’s two units.
Carolina racked up 364 yards of total offense by halftime. The Panthers ran for the most yards of any team in any half all season across the NFL, gashing the Lions for 240 yards on 22 carries. Quarterback Sam Darnold, not noted for his mobility, ran for 21 yards and a touchdown. Many of the carries involved running backs hitting wide-open creases and with Lions LBs and DBs woefully out of position to make a play.
Detroit’s response with the first drive of the second half was a meek 3-and-out capped by left tackle Taylor Decker allowing his first sack in over a month. It was the third straight 3-and-out for the Lions offense. Carolina answered with a 74-yard touchdown drive on seven plays to make it 31-7.
Any lingering hope crashed and burned when Josh Reynolds couldn’t handle a 4th-and-goal pass with the Lions trailing 34-13 early in the fourth quarter. He was guilty (probably) of offensive pass interference on the play, so the drop was moot.
Carolina wound up setting a team record for rushing yards in a game with 321 yards on 42 carries before a final kneeldown. One week earlier against the Steelers, Carolina gained 21 yards on 16 carries.
About the only bright spot for Detroit was tight end Shane Zylstra catching three touchdown passes. The Lions finished 4-for-12 on third downs and ran for just 45 yards on offense while giving up 570 to the Panthers.
The 7-8 Lions still have playoff life but will need to win in Week 17 at home against the Chicago Bears and on the road in Green Bay in Week 18 and also get more help.
