The Detroit Lions got their revenge after a devastating loss to the Carolina Panthers last year by defeating them at home with a score of 42-24. This win brought the Lions’ record to 4-1 for the season.
They surely had this game marked on their calendar, knowing they had to make up for last year’s loss, which essentially knocked them out of the playoffs. Despite missing some key players on offense, including Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs, the Lions’ offense did not seem to miss a beat, while their defense continued to put on a strong performance, making Bryce Young very uncomfortable. With their fourth win this season, the Lions are in complete control of the NFC North.
Buy Lions TicketsThe Lions put on an impressive performance against the Panthers, but there are still some areas where they need to improve. Here are this week’s Lions Studs and Duds for their victory over the Panthers.
Stud: Aidan Hutchinson
At this point, the list should be called “Hutch and Co.” because Hutchinson is just on a whole different level than everyone else. He is a stud on the field every week. He made one of the most athletic interceptions you’ll ever see from a defensive lineman and the Lions were able to capitalize on the ensuing drive. He continued to be a menace in the backfield with stellar run support and tallied another sack for his impressive resume. Although he did give fans a scare after taking a hit during the interception, it was going to take a lot more than that to keep Hutch down.
One-handed Wolverine!@aidanhutch97 #CARvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/tHoyNiuw2G
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 8, 2023
Dud: Jack Campbell
The Lions rookies, such as Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch, have been playing exceptionally well this season, but it seems that Jack Campbell still needs more time to improve his game. He was good at stopping runs, but his coverage skills still require some work.
During the game, he allowed Ian Thomas to score a touchdown and was later caught off guard by Thomas for a big gain. In addition, he was flagged for illegal contact that extended the Panthers’ drive, resulting in another touchdown. Campbell will undoubtedly improve, but today’s game was a challenge for him.
Stud: Josh Reynolds
Several players from the Lions offense had an impressive performance today, including Sam LaPorta, who scored two touchdowns, David Montgomery, who continued to run successfully, and the offensive line. However, with St. Brown absent, it was Josh Reynolds who stepped up and became a reliable target for Goff. Reynolds’ catches were not surprising, considering his past performances; he made some impressive catches that earned him the trust of the offense.
Although he dropped the ball early in the game, he redeemed himself with a toe-dragging touchdown. The Lions’ mantra is for players to step up in these situations, and Reynolds did just that, leading the way.
Dud: 2nd half openings
The Lions had an impressive first half against the Green Bay Packers last week, but they struggled to maintain their momentum in the second half. This was a major concern, and unfortunately, it happened again. They had to punt on their first two drives of the second half today against the Panthers.
Although they eventually got back on track, this was a worrying sign. It would be nice to see to put all four quarters together. The coaches are surely aware of this issue and will work to address it moving forward.
Stud: Will Harris
After Brian Branch was sidelined, Will Harris stepped up to play in the nickel position and did a great job. He came second only to Alex Anzalone in tackles, providing support all over the field. Although he allowed some catches, he immediately stopped the receiver in his tracks. Harris also made a superb pass breakup in the endzone and recovered a fumble caused by Benito Jones, which led to Josh Reynolds scoring a touchdown.
Despite receiving a lot of criticism, Harris has improved his game this year and proved himself to be a valuable asset to the Lions when they needed him the most.
Meh: Jameson Williams
The return of Jameson Williams two games earlier than anticipated caused a lot of excitement among many people. Coach Campbell had mentioned that they would slowly integrate Williams back into the team, but some fans ignored this and may end up disappointed with his usage, especially since St. Brown was going to miss this week’s game. In the game against the Panthers, Williams played a key role in blocking that led to some big plays, including Montgomery’s touchdown and a big gain from Craig Reynolds.
Unfortunately, Williams did drop an easy catch that would have likely resulted in a big gain. Hopefully, this is just a case of him getting back into the swing of things, but there were some areas where he performed well.
