The Panthers beat the Lions 32–26 at home in Carolina, moving to 2–2. The Lions fell to 2–2. It was an upset by the records: the Panthers came in at 1–2, the Lions at 2–1.
For the Panthers, Bryce Young went 29-for-41 for 329 yards with 2 touchdowns. Chuba Hubbard ran for 122 yards on 20 carries and scored 2 touchdowns. Tetairoa McMillan caught 14 passes for 192 yards and 2 touchdowns.
For the Lions, Jared Goff went 32-for-52 for 412 yards with 1 touchdown. Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 46 yards on 15 carries and scored a touchdown. Jameson Williams caught 6 passes for 102 yards.
Recaps are written automatically from the final score and box score: player stats from nflverse (CC BY 4.0).
Lions quarterback Jared Goff against Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. Lineups as listed before kickoff (Lions: Oct 4, 2026, 9:09 AM ET; Panthers: Oct 4, 2026, 9:09 AM ET).
Lions in this game: shotgun 72%, under center 28%, pistol 0% · one back 92%, two backs 4%, empty 4% · motion 42% (71 charted snaps).
As the team lists it: three receivers, one tight end and one running back. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Lions lined him up on most snaps.
NT#92 Lee Hunter Questionable (foot)Next up: Cam Jackson
RDE#97 Bobby Brown IIINext up: TeRah Edwards
WLB#91 Patrick Jones IINext up: Trevis Gipson
LILB#55 Devin LloydNext up: Tyrel Dodson
RILB#58 Bobby OkerekeNext up: Jackson Kuwatch
SLB#5 Jaelan PhillipsNext up: Princely Umanmielen
LCB#29 Akayleb EvansNext up: Mike Jackson
SS#7 Tre'von MoehrigNext up: Zakee Wheatley
FS#21 Nick ScottNext up: Lathan Ransom
RCB#24 Will Lee IIINext up: Robert Rochell
Two tight ends: the top two receivers stay on the field and the second tight end lines up on the left end. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Lions lined him up on most snaps. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.
NT#92 Lee Hunter Questionable (foot)Next up: Cam Jackson
RDE#97 Bobby Brown IIINext up: TeRah Edwards
WLB#91 Patrick Jones IINext up: Trevis Gipson
LILB#55 Devin LloydNext up: Tyrel Dodson
RILB#58 Bobby OkerekeNext up: Jackson Kuwatch
SLB#5 Jaelan PhillipsNext up: Princely Umanmielen
LCB#29 Akayleb EvansNext up: Mike Jackson
SS#7 Tre'von MoehrigNext up: Zakee Wheatley
FS#21 Nick ScottNext up: Lathan Ransom
RCB#24 Will Lee IIINext up: Robert Rochell
I-formation: two receivers and one tight end, with the quarterback under center and a fullback and running back stacked behind him. Two-back sets: 4% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement. No fullback on the depth chart, so the second tight end, Brock Wright, is shown at fullback.
NT#92 Lee Hunter Questionable (foot)Next up: Cam Jackson
RDE#97 Bobby Brown IIINext up: TeRah Edwards
WLB#91 Patrick Jones IINext up: Trevis Gipson
LILB#55 Devin LloydNext up: Tyrel Dodson
RILB#58 Bobby OkerekeNext up: Jackson Kuwatch
SLB#5 Jaelan PhillipsNext up: Princely Umanmielen
LCB#29 Akayleb EvansNext up: Mike Jackson
SS#7 Tre'von MoehrigNext up: Zakee Wheatley
FS#21 Nick ScottNext up: Lathan Ransom
RCB#24 Will Lee IIINext up: Robert Rochell
Four receivers and no tight end: the next receiver on the depth chart comes in. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Lions lined him up on most snaps. Empty-backfield sets: 4% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.
NT#92 Lee Hunter Questionable (foot)Next up: Cam Jackson
RDE#97 Bobby Brown IIINext up: TeRah Edwards
WLB#91 Patrick Jones IINext up: Trevis Gipson
LILB#55 Devin LloydNext up: Tyrel Dodson
RILB#58 Bobby OkerekeNext up: Jackson Kuwatch
SLB#5 Jaelan PhillipsNext up: Princely Umanmielen
LCB#29 Akayleb EvansNext up: Mike Jackson
SS#7 Tre'von MoehrigNext up: Zakee Wheatley
FS#21 Nick ScottNext up: Lathan Ransom
RCB#24 Will Lee IIINext up: Robert Rochell
Defense shown in its base front.
Panthers offense vs Lions defense
Panthers in this game: shotgun 62%, under center 37%, pistol 1% · one back 86%, two backs 3%, empty 11% · motion 51% (73 charted snaps).
As the team lists it: three receivers, one tight end and one running back. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Panthers lined him up on most snaps.
LCB#4 D.J. Reed Questionable (rib)Next up: Keith Abney II
SS#5 Christian IzienNext up: Brian Branch
FS#36 Chuck ClarkNext up: Bishop Fitzgerald
RCB#2 Ennis Rakestraw Jr.Next up: Rock Ya-Sin
Two tight ends: the top two receivers stay on the field and the second tight end lines up on the left end. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Panthers lined him up on most snaps. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.
Panthers offense, 2 TE
LT#63 Rasheed WalkerNext up: Stone Forsythe
LG#67 Corey BullockNext up: Torricelli Simpkins III
C#77 Luke FortnerNext up: Sam Hecht
RG#50 Robert HuntNext up: Corey Bullock
RT#57 Monroe Freeling Questionable (concussion)Next up: Stone Forsythe
LCB#4 D.J. Reed Questionable (rib)Next up: Keith Abney II
SS#5 Christian IzienNext up: Brian Branch
FS#36 Chuck ClarkNext up: Bishop Fitzgerald
RCB#2 Ennis Rakestraw Jr.Next up: Rock Ya-Sin
Four receivers and no tight end: the next receiver on the depth chart comes in. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Panthers lined him up on most snaps. Empty-backfield sets: 11% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.
Panthers offense, 4 WR
LT#63 Rasheed WalkerNext up: Stone Forsythe
LG#67 Corey BullockNext up: Torricelli Simpkins III
C#77 Luke FortnerNext up: Sam Hecht
RG#50 Robert HuntNext up: Corey Bullock
RT#57 Monroe Freeling Questionable (concussion)Next up: Stone Forsythe
LCB#4 D.J. Reed Questionable (rib)Next up: Keith Abney II
SS#5 Christian IzienNext up: Brian Branch
FS#36 Chuck ClarkNext up: Bishop Fitzgerald
RCB#2 Ennis Rakestraw Jr.Next up: Rock Ya-Sin
I-formation: two receivers and one tight end, with the quarterback under center and a fullback and running back stacked behind him. Two-back sets: 3% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement. No fullback on the depth chart, so the second tight end, Darren Waller, is shown at fullback.
Panthers offense, I-form
LT#63 Rasheed WalkerNext up: Stone Forsythe
LG#67 Corey BullockNext up: Torricelli Simpkins III
C#77 Luke FortnerNext up: Sam Hecht
RG#50 Robert HuntNext up: Corey Bullock
RT#57 Monroe Freeling Questionable (concussion)Next up: Stone Forsythe