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Sunday Night Football Picks: Detroit Lions vs Carolina Panthers Best Bets

by Ryan Cobbett - 10/1/2026

Sunday Night Football picks Detroit Lions vs Carolina Panthers Jared Goff

This week’s edition of Sunday Night Football features a showdown between the Detroit Lions and the Carolina Panthers. The Lions travel down south with a 2-1 record through the first three weeks of the season, and they will be looking to pick up their first road win of the season. Carolina, on the other hand, is 1-2 thus far, and they will be looking to win in front of their home fans for the first time this season. Detroit, despite some important injuries in their secondary, have continued to find the win column. They run an efficient offense, and their defense has made some big plays when called upon. Carolina is struggling through a lengthy injury report with some of Bryce Young’s favorite targets dealing with some injuries. The big storyline to follow here is whether or not the depleted Carolina defense can stop Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and the rest of the Detroit offense.

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Sunday Night Football Detroit Lions vs Carolina Panthers NFL Game Odds:

Detroit Lions: -3 / Moneyline: -180

Carolina Panthers: +3 / Moneyline: +150

Over/Under: 45.5

Sunday Night Football Detroit Lions Game Preview

The Lions responded well to their Week 2 loss in Buffalo by upending the New York Jets 31-24 at home. Detroit totaled 381 yards on offense, averaging well over four yards per carry, did not turnover the ball, and converted on four out of five red zone trips. The defense shut down the Jets ground game as they limited New York to just 3.1 yards per carry and just 58 rushing yards overall. Geno Smith did light up the secondary as the Lions continue to miss Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. Despite the injuries, Detroit is still loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. Through the first three weeks of the season the Lions have averaged 368.3 YPG and 31 PPG, both Top 10 marks in the league. The defense has been struggling as expected, allowing 416.7 YPG which is the second most in the NFL. Their 31.7 PPG allowed is the most by an NFL team this season.

The Lions do have reason for optimism ahead of this Sunday night clash. While the Lions defense remains banged up, the Panthers are going to be without some key members of their secondary which should open up the pass attack for Goff. Carolina now has to depend on unexperienced depth pieces on their defense against one of the best offenses in the league. On the flip side, the defense wins by getting to the quarterback. Young has shown flashes of excellence and if he is given time he will make big plays. The Lions secondary may be even thinner as Thomas Harper was put on the injured reserve, and D.J. Reed was a limited participant at practice this week. With this being the case, the defensive line needs to step up in a big way and make Young uncomfortable all game long.

Detroit Lions 3 Keys to Victory

  1. Attack the Carolina Secondary
  2. Get Gibbs involved on the Ground
  3. Make Bryce Young Uncomfortable

Detroit Lions Injuries

CB D.J. Reed – Questionable

LB DJ Wonnum – Questionable

G Ben Bartch – Questionable

C Cade Mays – IR

S Thomas Harper – IR

Sunday Night Football Carolina Panthers Game Preview

Carolina is returning home after a brief two-week road trip where they took down their division foe, Atlanta Falcons, but lost to the Cleveland Browns this past weekend. Carolina struggled to light up the scoreboard against Cleveland. They managed just three points in the first half, and finished the game with 18, despite outgaining the Browns by over 100 yards. The Panthers were hindered by 63 penalty yards, and drives stalled as a result. The ground game failed to really open things up for Young as they were limited to just 98 rushing yards. Young finished with 291 passing yards, though he completed just 54% of his passes, and he threw an interception. The failure to record points was a bit uncharacteristic of a team who ranks sixth in the NFL in scoring with 29.7 PPG. Defensively, Carolina has allowed 27.7 PPG which ranks 27th in the league, and they have also allowed over 365 YPG which also ranks near the bottom of the NFL.

If Carolina wants to pick up their first home win of the season, they will need to buy Young some time and get the ground game going. Young, though inaccurate a week ago, has put together some big plays this season and he will in this one if he is given the time. Unfortunately, in addition to their secondary injuries, Carolina is also dealing with some injury concerns along the offensive line. That may be a tremendous problem against the likes of Aidan Hutchinson and Derrick Barnes. With the injury concerns in the trenches, the Panthers are going to need to rely on their running game to get going in order to keep the Lions from selling out on pass plays and getting to Young. On the defensive side of the ball, the Panthers are going to need some of their depth defensive backs to step up and make big plays.

Carolina Panthers 3 Keys to Victory

  1. Limit the Big Plays by Goff
  2. Protect Young
  3. Establish Ground Game

Carolina Panthers Injuries

OT Monroe Freeling – Questionable

G Damien Lewis – Out

WR Xavier Legette – Doubtful

LB Princely Umanmielen – Questionable

WR Jalen Coker – Questionable

CB Jaycee Horn – IR

CB Mike Jackson – IR

Sunday Night Football Detroit Lions vs Carolina Panthers Game Predictions

With all the injury concerns, I am taking Detroit -3. While I do expect Young to connect on some flashy plays in front of the home crowd, the Lions are better built to win a shootout compared to the Panthers. There are too many playmakers on the Lions offense. And without their starting outside corners, the Panthers are going to be lit up by Goff. Carolina will get on the scoreboard as the Lions defense is also banged up, but the Lions should get some key stops throughout the game that allows them to build on their lead. Additionally, take the over here as well.

My Pick: Detroit Lions, -3 / Over 45.5

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