If you were asked to draw up a prototypical game between these two teams, based on this season, you would probably come up with something very similar to this encounter. The Carolina Panthers, punching above their weight with an impressive offensive display but ultimately falling short. The Detroit Lions, stumbling around at times, showing their weaknesses, but ultimately finding a way to get the win.
Once again the Panthers offense had a big game but after half time were only able to score once, as the Lions overturned a 17-point deficit to eventually pick up a 14-point victory. The Panthers' vulnerability in run defense was exposed as Kevin Smith turned in the starring role, a role usually reserved for Calvin Johnson. Smith’s first 100 yard game since Week 3 of the 2009 season proved decisive in a Lions win, which sends them into the short Thanksgiving week on a high.
Carolina – Three Performances of Note
Soft underbelly
The Panthers appear to be either stuck or sticking (depending on your perspective) with their trio of defensive tackles, a trio that has offered very little encouragement so far. Not for the first time this year all three members of the rotation, Sione Fua (-1.6), Terrell McClain (-3.1) and Andre Neblett (-2.3) graded negatively as none of them offered any real service in either the run defense or rushing the passer. Combined, they only registered two defensive stops and one pressure; even if all you’re looking for is space-eaters that isn’t enough. Whether in free agency or higher draft picks (or substantial improvement) the Panthers need to invest in the heart of their defense next season.
Threatening off the edge
While the interior of the defense continues to struggle, the Panthers are finding more and more players on the edge. We all know what Charles Johnson (+2.6) is capable of and now we’re seeing further reason to think Greg Hardy (+1.5) could breakout in similar fashion to Johnson as he builds on a solid rookie year. He wasn’t the only defensive end to shine with Thomas Keiser (+3.6), playing in only the second game of his rookie season, showing that they could have another talent at defensive end on their hands. The three did most of their strong work in run defense, defeating blocks and forcing runs back inside to try to offset the damage done by a poor performance from their interior. Keiser was the only one of the three to record a sack, recording two from opposite sides of the line, but the trio combined for seven defensive stops on the day. Something positive on defense at least for the Panthers to hang their hat on this season.
Don’t look back in anger
In spite of his vulnerability to trap blocks, exposed at times again in this game, not many people look back fondly or relish a rematch with Ndamukong Suh. It seems unlikely that Geoff Hangartner (-7.6) will be swift to raise his hand for another go round. Hangartner did not make a positive block on Suh, or Nick Fairley, for the entire game yet yielded six pressures to the two defensive tackles as well as a crucial hit on Cam Newton to Suh at 2:48 in the third quarter. The hit forced a hurried throw from Newton which was intercepted by DeAndre Levy, ending a potential scoring drive with the Lions’ lead only a slender point at that stage.
Detroit – Three Performances of Note
Triumphant return to prominence
Last week’s road trip to Chicago may have marked Kevin Smith’s (+3.8) return to the Lions’ gameday roster, but this week’s performance against Carolina saw Smith let everyone know he is back. With Jahvid Best struggling with a concussion and his status for the rest of the season unclear, the Lions’ running back position has been in a state of flux with Keiland Williams and Maurice Morris splitting time. The return of Smith, a former third round pick, is a boon to the Lions’ offense and provides them with some much needed balance to the, at times, one man band passing game of Calvin Johnson. Yes it came against Carolina’s porous defensive line, and yes it came against Carolina’s patchwork linebacking corps, but his touchdown rush to essentially ice the game with a two score lead (Q4 2:06) was sublime.
Investment in defensive tackles reaps rewards
The Lions made a statement about the intentions for their defense last season by drafting Ndamukong Suh (+3.3) and setting him loose on the NFL. They reinforced that intent by drafting Nick Fairley (+5.0) in 2011 and whilst Fairley’s late start to his rookie season due to injury may not see him making the kind of impact Suh did, he is quietly putting together a strong rookie season that is well-rounded with both play in both run and pass defense. Together Suh and Fairley combined to register two hits and seven pressures in this game with Fairley adding three tackles and some strong play in run defense. Suh’s most notable play from this game may have been taking himself out of the play on Cam Newton’s tying score at 5:03 in Q4 but that was a rare blemish on a strong game. Fairley however was consistently disruptive on his 29 snaps.
Strong day for the offensive line
The Lions offensive line has drawn criticism on occasion in the last two seasons but the number of snaps that this quintet has put in together is starting to pay off with a unit familiar with each other and playing off of each other extremely well. Gosder Cherilus’ (-1.2) play was the only real blemish in this game, grading positively only once with his run blocking while giving up a sack, a hit and three pressures. Perhaps the best example of the quality and effort the Lions’ line put forward in this game was the touchdown reception by Kevin Smith at 14:14 in the second quarter. On a screen to the right, four of the Lions linemen got out in front of the play, with Stephen Peterman laying the first block outside the right numbers while Jeff Backus, Rob Sims and Dominic Raiola were all out in front providing a convoy for Smith into the endzone.
Game Notes
– This was not a week for Cam Newton to look back on positively as a deep passer. Newton was 1/7 for 26 yards and two interceptions on passes aimed more than 20 yards downfield.
– Two defenders, Sherrod Martin and Justin Durant, missed as many tackles as they made in this game. Martin missed four while making the same number; Durant missed three and made only two.
– Both teams were on the field for exactly the same number of offensive snaps, 71 apiece.
PFF Game Ball
This could have gone to either Nick Fairley or Ndamukong Suh, but to ignore Kevin Smith’s triumphant re-emergence on his return from injury would be wrong. Smith knifed through the Panthers’ defense in the second half to spark the Lions’ comeback.
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