DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – Three weeks of Detroit Magic ran out on Christmas Eve as the Carolina Panthers ended the Lions’ three-game win streak, 37-23. The Panthers finished with 570 yards of total offense with 320 yards on the ground.

“They got after us pretty good there,” commented head coach Dan Campbell on Carolina’s rushing. “That’s a hard pill to swallow. You say things, but ultimately, when you play that way, it falls on me. I didn’t have them ready to go.”

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Detroit could not match the rush-for-rush offense of Carolina being held to just 45 yards on 17 attempts. Carolina produced 43 carries for an average of 7.4 yards per carry and 16 rushing first downs. Jared Goff did go  25-of-42 for 355 yards in the air with no interceptions but was sacked twice.

“They came ready to play and we didn’t. This is the NFL any team can get beat any game any day. If you’re not ready if you’re not locked in you can get beat and that’s what happened today. We’re the better team but we didn’t play like it today,” said defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs.

It looked to be a close game early in the game tied at seven a piece. Carolina struck first at 11:57 in the first quarter and then Jared Goff found Shane Zylstra from three-yards away at 8:38 to make it 7-7. On the next series, the Detroit defense forced a Carolina punt from mid-field with 6:10 to go in the first. Detroit received the fair catch at their own nine-yard line.

Goff took over driving the Lions down the field. Going 5-of-7 on the drive with key catches to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Goff had the Lions at the Carolina eight-yard line as the second quarter started looking to take the lead. On first-and-goal, Goff fumbled the ball which was recovered by Carolina at the nine-yard line. Sam Darnold then took almost five minutes off the clock going 91-yards to take the momentum and lead, 14-7, at 9:35 in the second quarter.

From there, Carolina scored again at 2:08 making it 21-7 and then hit a halftime ending 37-yard field goal for a 24-7 lead.

Detroit started the second half going three-and-out giving the Panthers back the ball just over two minutes into the third quarter. Seven plays later, Carolina went 74 yards to push their lead to 31-7 at the 9:12 mark. Goff did find Zylstra for his second touchdown of the day with 3:09 left in the third from seven-yards out to make it 31-13.

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Carolina scored again at the beginning of the fourth quarter with a 40-yard field goal for a 21-point lead, 34-13. Zylstra finished off his career day with a third touchdown pass with 3:46 left in the game from one-yard out making it 34-20. Carolina followed with a 36-yard field goal extending the lead to 17-points, 37-20. Michael Badgley hit a 34-yard field goal with 36 seconds left in the game as Detroit fell, 37-23.

DJ Chark had a career day at Detroit with four receptions for 108 yards as it was his fifth 100-yard reception game in his career. St. Brown then became the youngest Lions wide receiver to record a 1,000 yard season at 23 years, 61 days old. He surpassed Calvin Johnson’s record by eight days at 23 years, 69 days. He now has 1,050 yards on the year.

Detroit is now in a must-win situation to keep their playoff hopes alive in the final two games of the year against Chicago and Green Bay.