Detroit at Carolina
Time: 1:00 PM (ET)
Network: FOX
After missing week one action, Cam Newton will officially return to the Carolina Panthers today for their home opener. Although the team lacks experienced outsides, they put one of the more impressive defensive displays around the league in week one. The Detroit Lions opened Monday Night Football last week and showed pure dominance over the New York Giants, highlighted by Matthew Stafford’s 346 yards and Calvin Johnson’s 164 receptions.
The team showed great discipline in comparison to previous years with the core group entering the home stretch of their primes. Heading into this game, the Lions offense will essentially be battling the Panthers defense, which may have us siding with the veteran Carolina team at home.
This may be a must-win game for the Panthers, who have an extremely difficult schedule ahead with games against the Steelers, Ravens, Bears, Bengals, Packers, Seahawks and Saints before November. The Lions have the roster and talent to be a legitimate contender in the tough NFC, but the team’s fate this season like previous years will rely in their hands.
FINAL: CAR 24 | DET 7