Daily DLP: Lions vs. Panthers Week 4 matchup preview Detroit Lions Podcast

The Detroit Lions should dominate the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at Ford Field. Carolina’s offense is shorthanded up front and at receiver, and its defense is thin at cornerback and soft against the run. With Detroit ranking third in total pressures and second in sacks, as Jeff Risdon noted, the matchup tilts hard toward the Lions. Will the Detroit Lions defense control Bryce Young and the Panthers offense? Yes, the Lions defensive front has the advantage and will dictate this game. The Carolina Panthers run the ball just 34% of the time and their protection is compromised by injuries. Quarterback Bryce Young, the Carolina Panthers starter, is operating more from the pocket and not running much. Guard Damian Lewis, their best lineman, is out with an elbow injury and is likely out for the season. Rookie right tackle Monroe Freeling remains in the concussion protocol; if he cannot go, journeyman Steen Ford would start. Inside, they have not replaced Lewis effectively and are giving up pressure without blitzing. That is prime work for Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, defensive tackle Alim McNeill, edge rusher DJ Wonnum, and the power end rotation of Derrick Moore and Tyler Lacy. Dan Campbell also indicated safety Brian Branch should return after the bye, which further steadies the secondary. Key Panthers offensive numbers Completions at 59%, 7.7 yards per pass, and 97 rushing yards per game with 4.3 per carry underscore a pass-leaning attack that will struggle behind a depleted line and with banged-up targets. How should Detroit attack Carolina’s defense? Run the ball and stress their undermanned corners. Carolina is 32nd in yards allowed per carry at 5.7, and they allow 5.5 yards per carry to running backs. Starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson both went on IR this week. They are replaced by Akayleb Evans, rookie Will Lee, and Chau Smith-Wade. The Panthers sit 19th in pressure rate and 13th in sack rate, so quarterback Jared Goff should find rhythm throws to Detroit Lions slot receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, wide receiver Jameson Williams, and running back Jahmyr Gibbs out of the backfield. Interior disruptor Dorsey Brown is a real problem, so Detroit Lions guards Tate Ratledge and Cade Mays must anchor. Edge Jalen Phillips and rusher Umang line up opposite right tackle Penei Sewell at times, but Penei Sewell’s side should hold firm. Matchups to watch Aidan Hutchinson versus a rookie or journeyman right tackle, and Detroit’s interior rush against Carolina’s Lewis-less guard-center group, are game-shapers. What do the Panthers’ first three games actually show? Strip away Week 1 and you get a clearer picture. In Week 1, the Panthers were blown out by the Chicago Bears 59 to 37, allowing 552 yards of offense and 291 rushing yards. In Week 2, they beat Atlanta 34 to 3, aided by five turnovers and, as Jeff Risdon said, Cooper Rush starting for Atlanta. In Week 3, they lost at Cleveland 21 to 18. Their production in Weeks 2 and 3 is more representative: 340 and 360 total yards on offense. Defensively they allowed 286 yards and 17 first downs to Atlanta, then 259 yards and 17 first downs to Cleveland. Overall they are fifth in offensive scoring, seventh in yards per game on offense, 26th in defensive scoring, and 28th in yards allowed at 365.7. How confident should Lions fans be? Very. As Jeff Risdon stated, he is burning the Detroit Lions as his survivor pick this week, reflecting strong confidence. The final Detroit injury report looks clean, with Ben Bartch unlikely to play but guard Chris Mahogany coming off the best game of his career, and DJ Wonnum practicing Thursday after a back issue. With Carolina’s run defense leaking, corners on IR, and an injured line in front of Bryce Young, Detroit controls the matchups across the NFL board. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #aidanhutchinson #jaredgoff #amon-rast.brown #jahmyrgibbs #peneisewell #brianbranch #bryceyoung #damianlewis #monroefreeling #jchorn #mikejackson #jalencoker #djwonnum #cademays #tateratledge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices