Charlotte, N.C. — Here are three observations after a second viewing and a night ponder the Detroit Lions’ 32-26 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Nothing to hang their hat on
The Lions blitzed. They got pressure. Plenty of it. They even managed to hit Panthers quarterback Bryce Young nearly a dozen times. Behind that pass rush, the Lions played their preferred zone coverage this year. But, for good measure, they mixed a fair share of man-to-man looks, as well.
The disheartening result is none of it worked.
Young darted, bobbed and weaved. More than that, he stood tall and absorbed those hits when his play call required. There were a half-dozen times, in the first half alone, where Young disappeared in a swarm of defenders condensing his pocket, only for an unexpected spiral to emerge from the chaos.