The Detroit Lions can still score points with the best of them.
asserted
Lions → score → them
But a leaky defense could be what keeps coach Dan Campbell’s bunch from making some noise in the postseason if they’re unable to get things turned around over the final 13 games of the regular season.
uncertain
things → keep → season
The Lions (2-2) entered Sunday night’s game against the Carolina Panthers ranked last in the league in points allowed and yards passing on defense.
asserted
Lions → enter → defense
But that didn’t happen against Carolina.
asserted
that → happen → Carolina
Bryce Young torched the Lions.
asserted
Young → torch → Lions
He completed 29 of 41 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns.
asserted
He → complete → yards
Second-year wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan lit up the secondary with a career night — 14 receptions for 192 yards and two TDs.
asserted
McMillan → light → yards
And the Panthers won 32-26.
asserted
Panthers → win → ?
The 32 points allowed were right on par with the Lions’ weekly average.
asserted
points → allow → average
“I’m know there’s frustration,” Campbell said.
asserted
Campbell → know → ?
I’m frustrated.
asserted
I → ’m → ?
You’re a few plays away and a few penalties away.
asserted
You → ’re → ?
After the Lions forced a punt on Carolina’s first possession, the Panthers scored on their next six possessions, including four touchdowns, to build a 32-19 lead.
asserted
Panthers → force → lead
Young picked apart the Lions secondary — much like other quarterbacks have done this season — repeatedly finding an open McMillan to move the chains.
asserted
quarterbacks → pick → chains
The Panthers, who have struggled to run the ball this season, found success with the RPO (run-pass option) and running back Chuba Hubbard eclipsed 100 yards on the ground and scored twice.
asserted
Hubbard → struggle → ground
“We knew McMillan was going to be an issue, especially when (No. 2 wide receiver Jalen) Coker got hurt.
asserted
Coker → know → ?
We knew that would be a guy that they would try to go to,” Campbell said.
asserted
Campbell → know → that
“He’s a really good receiver and he made some plays.”
asserted
he → ’ → plays
None were bigger than McMillan’s 18-yard toe-tap catch along the sideline on Carolina’s final drive on third and 14 to move the chains and burn time off the clock with the Panthers nursing a 6-point lead.
asserted
Panthers → move → lead
“That was a huge catch at the end of the game,” Campbell said.
asserted
Campbell → say → game
Campbell said he’ll take a close look at the defense on tape Monday.
asserted
he → say → tape
“One of the things for me coming into the game is discipline and effort,” Campbell said.
asserted
Campbell → come → game
“Effort always going to be a big thing for me.
asserted
Effort → go → me
I’m going to be anxious to see that and look at the tape.”
asserted
I → go → tape
He added bluntly, “It’s not good enough right now.
asserted
It → add → ?
That’s the bottom line.”
asserted
That → ’ → ?
The Lions have been battling some injuries on defense and it didn’t help that cornerback Rock Ya-Sin went down Sunday night with a hamstring injury.
asserted
Sin → battle → injury
Despite all of the issues, the Lions defense did eventually get a stop on Carolina’s final drive, giving quarterback Jared Goff the ball at the Lions 13 with 2:12 remaining.
asserted
defense → get → 2:12
But the drive quickly fizzled out and the Lions turned it over on downs.
asserted
Lions → fizzle → downs
Young took a knee twice and ran out the clock.
asserted
Young → take → clock
“I legitimately felt we were winning the game when we got the stop at the end and gave it to our offense with two minutes and whatever it was,” defensive end Aidan Hutchinson said.
asserted
Hutchinson → feel → minutes
“I had the utmost confidence in them.”
asserted
I → have → them
But, Hutchinson added, “we shouldn’t have put them in a hole.
asserted
we → add → hole
I wish we would’ve gotten stops earlier.”
asserted
we → wish → stops
As for Sheppard, Hutchinson has faith he will get things turned around.
asserted
things → have → faith
Sheppard took over as defensive coordinator in 2025 after working four years as a position coach.
asserted
Sheppard → take → coach
“I’ve been with Shep for years now,” Hutchinson said.
asserted
Hutchinson → say → years
“I have the utmost faith in him.
asserted
I → have → him
We have to evolve as a defense and we have to continue to grow.
asserted
we → have → defense
Because we can’t keep putting our offense in these shootout games.”
asserted
we → keep → games
The Aporia
