The Lions Run Through The Panthers

-Frank Leon, Contributor 

The Detroit Lions put a beating on the Carolina Panthers 42-24 in a game that wasn't even as close as the score would suggest. The Lions offense put up their most points of the year and over 150 rushing yards as they put away the Panthers early and never let them get close.

Playing the game without star receiver Amon-Ra St Brown and rookie star Jahmyr Gibbs, the offense did not lose a step at all. Josh Reynolds led the way with 4 catches for 76 yards and a TD, Sam Laporta continued his historic start in TE history with 3 catches for 47 yards and 2 TDs and 7 Lions receivers had at least 2 catches.

Jared Goff spread the ball around and kept the defense guessing. One trick play by OC Ben Johnson had a double reverse flea flicker go for a TD to Laporta and it was so good that the Broncos and 49ers both attempted it later that day (Broncos fumbled).

David Montgomery had another 100 yard rushing game and Craig Reynolds, a fan and team favorite, played the backup role and scored his first NFL touchdown. The defense continues playing like a top 5 unit especially in the run defense game, holding another team to under 100 yards rushing.

Chubba Hubbard had 35 yards rushing and Miles Sanders had 32. The Lions have now allowed only 342 yards rushing and 3 TDs in 5 games.

Alex Anzalone led the way with 11 tackles. Aidan Hutchinson had a one handed interception for his 4th pick in 2 years, the most by a defensive lineman in their first 2 years in history. The record for defensive lineman is 12 interceptions if anyone was curious. Jerry Jacobs had his 3rd pick of the year as well, tying for the league lead.

The Lions first half ended 28-10 and they did a great job of putting away a team that hasn't won a game yet this season. The Lions came in as a 9.5 favorite so to cover they would need to win by at least 10 points and they more than handled their end of that. They go into next week's matchup with Tampa Bay as a 3 point favorite. This game was flexed as the Fox game of the week to 4:25est.

Notes:

- Aidan Hutchinson now leads the league in pressures with 35 per PFF and has had at least 6 in every game this season.

- The Lions were missing St Brown, Gibbs, Rookie Star Brian Branch and a few others. And then received bad news during the game, losing free agent Emmanuel Mosley on his second play of the season to a torn ACL.

-The Lions had their young WR Jameson Williams come back after his suspension for gambling was cut short by the NFL. He dropped his first pass but caught his 2 other targets for 2 yards. But his most important contribution this game was his impact blocking down the field, most notably knocking his defender to the ground on Montgomery's 42 yard TD run.