Carolina Panthers @ Detroit Lions
Final Score: Lions 42, Panthers 24
Writer: Ryan Radel (@RadelFF on Twitter)
First and foremost, Panthers guard Chandler Zavala is able to move all extremities after being carted off the field in the first quarter of the game.
This game got out of hand quick, as the Lions got off to a hot start even with two of their offensive impact players missing the game due to injury (Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs.) The Lions’ offense put up 28 points in the first half while the Panthers managed only 10, which put the game in garbage time pretty early. The Lions opened up the playbook in the second half, including a trick play and a trick snap. 14 of the Panthers’ 24 points came in the final quarter of the game when the outcome was pretty much already decided, but garbage time still counts in fantasy football.
Three Up
- Adam Thielen – First read all game in the Panthers offense and played extremely quarterback-friendly from start to finish.
- David Montgomery – Another game, another touchdown.
- Sam LaPorta – Continues to be a focus in this offense, even has trick plays drawn up for him now!
Three Down
- Marvin Jones Jr – His age is showing a lot. Very obvious missed blocks on run plays to his side.
- Miles Sanders – He practiced through an injury this week, looked really underwhelming, and lost a fumble.
- Bryce Young – The majority of his stats came in garbage time which game pretty early.
Panthers
Quarterback
Bryce Young: 25/41, 247 yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 1 sack | 1 carry, 4 yards
Both of Bryce Young‘s interceptions came in the first half which heavily contributed to the game getting out of hand quickly as the Lions turned each interception into a touchdown. He was able to manage a touchdown toss when the game was still competitive as he led the Panthers on a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Bryce’s second and third touchdown tosses came when the game was already decided. He looked like he stared down his first read every play, and if that was covered he was too slow to progress through the rest of his reads. It wasn’t pretty but it wasn’t all his fault as his blocking was suspect. His early interception was very ugly as he telegraphed the tight end screen:
One-handed Wolverine!@aidanhutch97 #CARvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/tHoyNiuw2G
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 8, 2023
Andy Dalton: 1 carry, 1 yard
Notes
- Pulled Bryce Young and put in Dalton for their version of the tush push. It worked and extended the touchdown drive in the first quarter.
Running Back
Miles Sanders: 7 carries, 32 yards, fumble (lost) | 1 target
Miles Sanders battled through injury this week and made himself available but it was very underwhelming. He had a couple of nice runs before coughing up the ball on the first play of a drive right after the defense forced a turnover on downs. It was a big momentum swing as the game was still a one-score game at the time. To add insult to injury, the following Panthers’ possession was a one-play turnover as well. Sanders lost touches for the remainder of the game and had a dud of a fantasy day.
Chuba Hubbard: 9 carries, 35 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception
After Sanders coughed up the ball the Panthers gave more snaps to Chuba Hubbard and the results weren’t much different, although he was able to take care of the ball. The Panthers’ offensive line was not doing Hubbard nor Sanders any favors. Neither asset in this backfield looked impressive, along with most of the Panthers’ offense.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Adam Thielen: 13 targets, 11 receptions, 107 yards, touchdown
As mentioned above, Adam Thielen was the first read on a majority of Bryce Young’s dropbacks. He was able to get loose on a lot of short crossing routes and make the defense pay, especially when it became garbage time. He may be getting older, but he’s still a technician in his routes, and gives 100% effort on every snap. He displayed that on his touchdown grab late in the game:
Thielen went all in. pic.twitter.com/CrFzK0Hsqh
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 8, 2023
Jonathan Mingo: 7 targets, 5 receptions, 48 yards
One of his targets was intercepted and acted more as a long punt, otherwise, Jonathan Mingo acted as the number two behind Thielen in the passing game with the stat line to show for it. Bryce Young had no time to throw the ball which didn’t allow Mingo to get loose downfield and do any damage.
DJ Chark Jr.: 6 targets, 3 receptions, 42 yards, touchdown
DJ Chark Jr.’s touchdown came in the fourth quarter and could be classified as garbage time. Again, with how rough Bryce Young has looked it’s hard to expect consistent production out of his receivers.
Laviska Shenault Jr.: 5 carries, 27 yards
Yes, those are carries and not receptions. Laviska was used creatively to get touches while lined up all over the field after Miles Sanders lost his fumble. He runs hard but without much of a passing game threat, there is limited space to run.
Hayden Hurst: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 21 yards
If all of the tight end production went to a single player, it would’ve been 6 targets, 5 receptions, 50 yards, and a score which would be a high-quality outing from a tight end. Instead, it’s spread across three players who you are likely never going to start.
Ian Thomas: 2 targets, 1 reception, 28 yards
Tommy Tremble: 1 target, 1 reception, 1 yard, touchdown
Made it in 🙌 pic.twitter.com/XX5VwN9LAv
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 8, 2023
Lions
Quarterback
Jared Goff: 20/28, 236 yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 sacks | 2 carries, 0 yards, touchdown
Jared Goff continued his extremely impressive 2023 campaign as he led the Lions to four touchdowns on five first-half drives. His decision-making continued to impress, and he looked incredibly comfortable in this offense even on trick plays. Lacking two of his playmakers, Goff didn’t miss a beat on his way to an incredibly efficient outing. Goff continued to take care of the ball, and his on-field awareness was on display as he took advantage of the Panthers defense all game:
https://twitter.com/Lions/status/1711080221733015778
Teddy Bridgewater: 2 carries, -2 yards
Running Back
David Montgomery: 19 carries, 109 yards, touchdown | 6 targets, 2 receptions, 20 yards
David Montgomery continues to rumble on this season as his touchdown production echoes that of former Lions running back Jamaal Williams. The Lions’ offense puts Montgomery in good situations every week, and he continues to reward that trust with touchdowns. With Gibbs out, Montgomery had an opportunity to get involved in the passing game but wasn’t able to make much of an impact when compared to his ground game. The powerful Lions offensive line opened up lanes, and Montgomery hit them, with a little downfield blocking help from his receivers (keep an eye on #9):
Picking up right where he left off @MontgomerDavid 💪#CARvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/LHtAI2K532
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 8, 2023
Craig Reynolds: 7 carries, 52 yards, touchdown
Congrats on the first career touchdown, Craig Reynolds!
Zonovan Knight: 1 target, 1 reception, 8 yards
Exited the game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Josh Reynolds: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 76 yards, touchdown
Josh Reynolds needed to step up with St. Brown out and he filled in just fine. Acting as the Lions top wideout, Reynolds was reliable when called upon and was even able to secure a very nice snag in the back of the endzone late in the first half to give him a respectable fantasy day:
.@JaredGoff16 & @J_Rey_11 have that 🧪️#CARvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/eNQrARtlNE
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 8, 2023
Sam LaPorta: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 47 yards, 2 touchdowns
Gamescript didn’t require the Lions to throw the ball a whole bunch, but when they did, they were explosive. Sam LaPorta was only targeted four times, bringing in three of them, with two of them resulting in touchdowns. It’s clear LaPorta is a top read in this offense and a top tight-end option this season. LaPorta was heavily involved in this passing game and had plays drawn up just for him, including a reverse flea flicker:
LET. BEN. COOK.#CARvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/V1lHuqYM0J
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 8, 2023
Jameson Williams : 3 targets, 2 receptions, 2 yards
Lions head coach Dan Campbell said earlier this week that Jameson Williams will have to acclimate into the Lions offense after being activated from his gambling suspension before week four. It did not look like plays were necessarily drawn up for Williams but he was still targeted three times. He didn’t do much with them, bringing in two targets for two yards, but he did lay a crucial block on David Montgomery’s 42-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
Kalif Raymond: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 45 yards
Marvin Jones Jr.: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 22 yards
His targets were nothing special and he whiffed on a few blocks. Not a great look.
Brock Wright: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 16 yards
Garbage time.