Panthers top Lions 32-26 as Young and McMillan connect twice

Young and McMillan do the damage

Carolina needed its passing game to show up and it did. Bryce Young went 29 of 41 for 329 yards and two touchdowns, both to Tetairoa McMillan, who finished with 14 catches for 192 yards. McMillan's scores came on a 32-yard throw in the second quarter and a 10-yarder in the third, the second one putting Carolina up 22-16.

McMillan said after the game, "everything just clicked tonight." He credited offensive coordinator Brad Idzik's play calls and said Young trusted them even after a rough week of practice reps between the two. McMillan's 192 receiving yards and his two touchdowns on 14 catches put him in rare company among Carolina pass catchers.

Young talked about his confidence in McMillan too, saying, "I know what kind of player he is. He's special." The two connected on 14 of what looks like a heavy target share, with Carolina also missing wide receivers Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette to injury, which pushed more of the offense through McMillan.

Hubbard supplies the ground game

While Young and McMillan took the spotlight through the air, Chuba Hubbard did the dirty work on the ground. He carried 20 times for a season-high 122 yards and two touchdowns, a 15-yard score in the first quarter and a 2-yard score in the third that made it 19-29.

Carolina's full scoring line went field goal, touchdown, field goal, touchdown, touchdown, field goal, field goal, touchdown, field goal, touchdown, field goal, six straight scoring drives after an opening punt. Ryan Fitzgerald missed two extra points but made field goals of 47, 26 and 33 yards, with the 33-yarder in the fourth quarter putting Carolina up 19-32.

Carolina finished with 445 total yards, 127 of them on the ground, and converted 28 first downs against a Lions defense that had no turnovers to work with all night.

Goff and the Lions keep pace but come up short

Detroit did not go quietly. Jared Goff threw for 412 yards on 32-of-52 passing with a touchdown to Sam LaPorta, an 8-yard score in the fourth quarter that pulled the Lions within 26-32. Jameson Williams caught six passes for 102 yards to lead Detroit's receivers.

Jahmyr Gibbs scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter that tied the game at 13 before the half, part of a night where Detroit racked up 452 total yards, more than Carolina, but did far less of it on the ground, just 46 rushing yards on the day.

Detroit also finished with 24 first downs and zero turnovers, but nine penalties for 67 yards kept stalling drives. Jake Bates made four field goals, from 54, 43, 41 and 26 yards, keeping the Lions in it even as Carolina pulled away in the third quarter.

What's next

Carolina moves to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the division, while Detroit drops to 2-2 and 0-2 in the division. Both sides are banged up. Carolina is without guard Damien Lewis (elbow) and tackle Cam Jackson (knee), with edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and tackle Monroe Freeling questionable.

Detroit is dealing with its own absences, tackle Ben Bartch is out with a foot injury, safety Brian Branch is out after Achilles surgery, and center Cade Mays is on injured reserve with a wrist fracture. Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin is questionable with a hamstring issue.

For Carolina, the night belonged to the Young-to-McMillan connection and a Hubbard-powered ground game that controlled the third quarter. For Detroit, 412 yards from Goff and a late push from LaPorta were not enough to cover for a run game that managed only 46 yards. Jack Campbell led all tacklers with 14 for Detroit, and Akayleb Evans paced Carolina with 11.

Facts per ESPN box score. Opinion is the taproom's.