Matthew Stafford's heroics lead Lions to 27-14 win over Carolina Panthers – NFL Recap
Detroit Lions looked down and out during half-time with the score 27-14 but Lions quarter back Matthew Stafford gave a heroic performance to lead the Lions to victory over Carolina Panthers in one of the most exciting encounters
in game week 11 winning the game in the final quarter 49-35.
"We can get as hot as any team in the league," Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said.
Stafford threw a career best five touchdown passes on 335 yards throwing just two interceptions as he completed 28 out of 36 passes to send the Panthers to their third straight loss of the season, and snapped Panthers four game
winning run against Lions.
"When Matt knows he can throw a short pass to one of our receivers or running backs, they can get yards after the catch, it gives you a lot of confidence as a quarterback," Schwartz said.
The Panthers have now lost eleven games on the road this year and are struggling at fourth in the National Football Conference South division with a 2-8 record.
"This is a team loss," Carolina coach Ron Rivera mourned. "You play the second half the way we did, you're going to get beat."
Panthers Quarter back Cam Newton the number 1 draft pick in 2011 had a game of two halves showing his amazing potential in the first half and finished the game with 280 yards completing 22 of 38 passes while also getting picked
off four times during the match.
Panthers started brightly taking a 10-0 lead in the first quarter with a field goal from Olindo Mare four minutes from time and a Steve Smith touchdown from a 15 yard pass from Cam Newton right at the death.
Running back Kevin Smith who had his best game for the Lions got his team’s first points early in the second quarter as he collected Matthew Stafford’s 28 yard pass but the Panthers responded straight from the kickoff. Kealoha
Pilares caught Jason Hanson’s kick and started a mazy run through the Lions defence beating everyone including the kicker himself to score a wonderful kickoff return of 101 yards. It was the Panthers first kickoff return since 2003. Cam Newton had his own
little solo effort four minutes later as he scored a touchdown with an eleven yard run to make it 24-7 to the Panthers.
Detroit Lions responded with three minutes left in the quarter with Stafford throwing his second touchdown pass from 3 yards for Titus Young to make it 24-14. Panther’s kicker Olindo Mare scored a field goal right at the death
of the second quarter to put the score at 27-14.
As the Panthers looked firmly in control at the end of the first half, Stafford and the Lions crushed any Panthers hopes for an easy win as they dominated the third quarter. Nate Burleson (16 yards) and Tony Scheffler (17 yards)
scored two touchdowns to give the Lions the lead for the first time during the game in the last ten minutes of the third quarter with Stafford providing the passes to make it 27-28.
The tension in the stands was apparent at the start of the fourth quarter as Kevin Smith’s second touchdown of the game at 8:02 was cancelled out three minutes later by Cam Newton with a 6 yard run into the Lions end-zone with
the score dangerously poised at 35-35.
Stafford threw his most important touchdown pass with 2:32 on the dial as Brandon Pettigrew reached the Panthers end-zone to make it 35-42 and Kevin Smith scored the winning points two minutes from time with a 19 yard touchdown
to cap an amazing performance as the Lions won 35-49.
Tags: