National Football League
Detroit 42, Carolina 24
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, October 8, 2023
Where: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Temperature: Dome
Head Official: Adrian Hill
Attendance: 63648

Jared Goff passed for three touchdowns and rushed for another as the host Detroit Lions pounded the winless Carolina Panthers 42-24 on Sunday.

Goff completed 20 of 28 passes for 236 yards. David Montgomery rushed for 108 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown for the Lions (4-1). Josh Reynolds caught four passes for 76 yards and a score.

The Lions were missing two key playmakers, as top receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (abdomen) and rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) were inactive. It didn't matter as Detroit scored six touchdowns.

Carolina rookie Bryce Young completed 25 of 41 passes for 247 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Adam Thielen caught 11 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers (0-5).

Panthers rookie guard Chandler Zavala was carted off in the opening quarter due to a neck injury.

The Lions led 28-10 at halftime.

Detroit drove 81 yards in just three plays during its first possession to take the lead. Montgomery cut to his left and scored from 42 yards out.

Aidan Hutchinson's one-handed interception deep in Panthers territory set up the Lions' next scoring play. On 3rd-and-goal, Goff found Sam LaPorta for a 4-yard touchdown.

Carolina responded with a 14-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by Young's 1-yard pass to tight end Tommy Tremble.

Another Panthers giveaway provided Detroit with a short field. Will Harris recovered a Miles Sanders fumble at the Carolina 38. A methodical 10-play drive resulted in Goff's 1-yard scoring pass to Reynolds.

Carolina's next turnover, a Young pass picked off by Jerry Jacobs, was quickly cashed in by the Lions. They used a flea flicker to free up LaPorta and Goff connected with his rookie tight end for a 31-yard touchdown.

The Panthers' Eddy Pineiro kicked a 33-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the half.

Goff scored on a 1-yard plunge on the first play of the fourth quarter as the Lions took a 35-10 lead.

Young connected with D.J. Chark on an 18-yard touchdown to cut Detroit's lead to 18 points.

Craig Reynolds scored the Lions' sixth touchdown on a 5-yard run.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
Rushing
Carolina   Detroit
Chuba Hubbard Player David Montgomery
9 Attempts 19
35 Yards 109
3.9 Avg Yards 5.7
0 Touchdowns 1
6 Long 42
Receiving
Carolina   Detroit
Adam Thielen Player Josh Reynolds
11 Receptions 4
107 Yards 76
9.7 Avg Yards 19.0
1 Touchdowns 1
30 Long 27
Team Stats Summary
 
  Yards Scoring Defense
Team Tot Rus Pas TD FG INT Sck FF
Carolina 342 99 243 3 1 0 2.0 0
Detroit 377 159 218 6 0 2 1.0 2
Upcoming Games
  • Detroit will play their next game on the road against Tampa Bay. The Lions have a W/L % of .750 after a win and 1.000 after a loss.
  • Carolina will play their next game on the road against Miami. The Panthers have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.