The Detroit Lions are looking like a playoff team again.
After losing three of their previous four games, the Lions got off to a lousy start on Sunday and looked like a team that was going into the tank against the Panthers: At one point Carolina had a 17-point lead. But the Lions bounced back in the third quarter and poured it on late to win 49-35.
The story of the game was running back Kevin Smith, who was not offered a contract as a restricted free agent and unemployed (unless he got a job as a clerk in a convenience store or something) until the Lions re-signed him last week. All Smith did for the Lions today was run for 140 yards and two touchdowns and catch four passes for 61 yards and another touchdown, to lead the way for Detroit. It was a very impressive showing for a team that desperately needed someone to step up and start making plays in the running game.
As for the Lions’ passing game, it looked like a mess at first: Matthew Stafford, who threw four interceptions last week against the Bears, is continuing to play with a glove on his passing hand to protect a broken finger, and he struggled early on, throwing interceptions on the Lions’ first two offensive series. At that point, some idiot on Twitter was suggesting the Lions should bench Stafford, but the rest of the way Stafford was solid, with five touchdown passes and no more picks.
The game’s other quarterback, Cam Newton, made some big plays, including two rushing touchdowns and a great 15-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith. But Newton also struggled at times under pressure, and he threw four interceptions.
The Lions still have their problems, especially on special teams, where they gave up yet another return touchdown, this time a 102-yard kickoff return by Carolina’s Kealoha Pilares. But they’re now 7-3 and leading the way in the NFC wild card race. Up next they’ll get a chance to show just what kind of team they are when the Packers come to town on Thanksgiving.
