Detroit Free Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett looks at Detroit Lions players and coaches who helped their stock or hurt it after their 37-23 loss to Carolina Panthers on Saturday at Bank of America Stadium: Three up WR DJ Chark: The Lions didn’t do a whole lot right Saturday, but Chark continued his hot play with four

‘Twas the day before Christmas And all through the house Not a creature was stirring They were all on the couch The children were nestled In front of the screen Their parents and relatives Squeezed in between As snow filled the air And winds blew by gusting Lions fans felt their old bad luck adjusting

CHARLOTTE — Dan Campbell shook his head back and forth, never changing the look of disappointment on his face. The Detroit Lions turned in their worst defensive performance of the season Saturday, allowing 320 yards rushing — their most in 24 years — in a 37-23 loss to the Carolina Panthers, and Campbell said after

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett grades the Detroit Lions after their 37-23 loss to Carolina Panthers on Saturday at Bank of America Stadium: Quarterback Jared Goff lost a fumble on the second play of the second quarter, his first turnover since early November, but he was only a small part of the Lions’ problems Saturday.

Free Press sports writer Rainer Sabin answers three questions after the Detroit Lions fell to the Carolina Panthers, 37-23, in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday: Where was this game lost? After the Lions held their previous two opponents to a total of 72 rushing yards, there was reason to believe they had plugged the leaks

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Blame it on the weather. No, not the cold — the Detroit Lions should be able to handle a little bite in the air. I’m talking about the weather that forced the Lions south a day earlier than normal on a road trip. It knocked them off balance. Had to, right? They

CHARLOTTE — A few plays after Chuba Hubbard broke a 33-yard run late in Saturday’s second quarter, the Carolina Panthers’ sixth run of 20-plus yards in the first half, the T.I. song, “Whatever you like,” came blaring over the sound system at Bank of America Stadium. The song and its chorus — “You can have

The Detroit Lions entered their Week 16 game against the Carolina Panthers at 7-7 and in the thick of the NFC playoff race. And then the ball was kicked off. By game’s end, the Lions had laid a massive lump of coal losing 37-23, reverting to their pre-November form that saw them stumble and crawl

DJ Chark does not have time for doomscrolling during the season. The Detroit Lions receiver might hop on Instagram to post a story or like a teammate’s picture after a game, but by the end of business Monday, he’s mostly logged off social media for the week. Still, Chark saw enough negativity early this season

Detroit Lions (7-7) at Carolina Panthers (5-9) The coaches: Lions — Dan Campbell (15-27-1 overall, 10-20-1 with Lions); Panthers — Steve Wilks (7-18 overall, 4-5 with Panthers). Last game: Lions beat New York Jets, 20-17; Panthers lost to Pittsburgh Steelers, 24-16. Last meeting: Nov. 22, 2020: Panthers won, 20-0. Key matchups Lions LT Taylor Decker vs. Panthers

Free Press sports writers predict the Detroit Lions vs. Carolina Panthers game Saturday (1 p.m. Fox) at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the Lions (7-7) are 2½-point favorites over the Panthers (5-9): Shawn Windsor The Panthers won three of four before losing to Pittsburgh at home last week. Like the Jets,

Ben Johnson, the Detroit Lions‘ offensive coordinator, looks like a future coaching star. Just about every disgruntled NFL fan base knows who he is. Some Tampa Bay fans, for example, already are pining for the fast-rising play-caller to join forces with Tom Brady and straighten out the Bucs’ kinked-up offense this offseason. If not the

The Detroit Lions can boost their chances to make the playoffs substantially with a win Saturday over the Carolina Panthers, and if things fall right elsewhere they could be in a position to clinch a playoff berth (with some help) in Week 17. So who do the Lions need to win — and lose —

Frank Ragnow was soaking in the hot tub at the Detroit Lions practice facility this week after he found out he made his second Pro Bowl when the magnitude of the accomplishment hit him. “I almost started crying alone in the hot tub,” Ragnow said Thursday. “Tough look.” Ragnow was the only Lions player selected

The Detroit Lions aren’t taking any chances with the weather. Lions coach Dan Campbell said Thursday the team is traveling early to this weekend’s game against the Carolina Panthers to avoid any delays due to a snowstorm that’s expected to plunge temperatures into the single digits and drop as much as 8 inches of snow

Apple Podcasts | Spotify • Hosts: Shawn Windsor (@shawnwindsor) and Carlos Monarrez (@cmonarrez) • Producer: Andrew Hammond • Editor: Cary Junior • Guest: Marc Fellhauer, “Drew and Mike,” “ML Soul of Detroit” podcast host. • Executive producers: Anjanette Delgado, Kirkland Crawford • Email: swindsor@freepress.com On this episode: This week, Shawn is joined by longtime Detroit radio staple Marc Fellhauer, co-host of the “Drew and Mike” podcast and the “ML Soul of

Eric Hipple was bracing for a butt-chewing. The Detroit Lions lost their fourth straight game early in the 1983 season to fall to 1-4, and when Hipple and his Lions teammates showed up for work the next morning they figured head coach Monte Clark would be in a foul mood. But when Clark walked into

Hank Fraley rarely hears what type of pain his offensive linemen are playing through unless “one of those guys rats him out,” Fraley said. But the Detroit Lions offensive line coach has not needed a snitch to know what center Frank Ragnow has been dealing with most of the season, and that has made Ragnow’s

Jared Goff’s first bomb to Jameson Williams went for a touchdown. His second probably should have, too. Goff underthrew a deep pass to Williams in last week’s win over the New York Jets, and afterwards the Detroit Lions quarterback admitted he still is getting accustomed to Williams’ blazing speed. “I wish I would’ve thrown it

The Detroit Lions keep racking up wins and taking home player of the week of awards. Return man Kalif Raymond became the fifth Lion to win a player of the week honor Wednesday when he was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, after returning a punt for a touchdown in last week’s win