Editor: Joe Bryant. Game Recap Contributors: Mike Anderson, Michael Brown, Chris Burtt, J.D. Caldwell, David Dodds, Jim Enochs, Joel Faulhaber, Michael Flynn, Kevin Goldblum, Clayton Gray, Bob Harris, Fred Hebert, Jesse Hilsenrad, Drew Kendall, Jeff Lewis, Joey Matusek, Justin Oliver, Steve Prosapio, David Shick, Cody Smith, Scott Smith, Jeffrey Stout. Detroit 7 at Carolina 31 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Detroit Lions: Detroit looked horrible in this game. They could not get the ball moving in the running or passing game, and made many mistakes on both sides of the ball. The Carolina defense pressured QBs Mike McMahon and Joey Harrington all game long, sacking McMahon six times. While the Lion's run defense did fairly well, their secondary gave up over 300 yards to Rodney Peete... Peete's first 300 yard game in 10 years. James Stewart started and played the whole game. With the Lion offensive line playing very poorly he was ineffective for the most part. He ran well enough when he got the blocking, but that wasn't often. He did rip off a nice 21 yard run, but carried the ball only 12 times. Both QBs Mike McMahon and Joey Harrington played poorly in this game. While some blame can be laid at the feet of the offensive line for their poor performance in protecting the QB ( Lions guard Kerlin Blaise going down with a sprained left knee and leaving the game didn't help the situation at all), Both QB's made some poor throwing decisions. McMahon led one good drive which resulted in the Lions only score (he ran it in himself on a bootleg). Carolina Panthers: Rodney Peete had a career day against a very weak Detroit secondary, throwing for 310 yards and a TD. Peete showed a veterans poise in the pocket, and threw the ball with great touch. He locked on to Muhsin Muhammad in the second half, hooking up with him for 8 receptions and 107 yards and a TD. His longest pass went to RB Lamar Smith for 58 yards. He was relieved late in the game by Chris Weinke. This is a weak pass defense that deserves your attention. The Panthers had trouble with their running game. Lamar Smith did have a rushing TD, but carried the ball 21 times for only 56 yards... a 2.7 yards per carry average. The Panther defense played very well, severely limiting the Lion rushing game and pressuring Mike McMahon and Joey Harrington on every pass play. They sacked McMahon six times total, forced a McMahon fumble, and intercepted each QB once, returning their interception of McMahon for a TD. They allowed the Lions only 122 total yards combined. The Panther defense has yet to be tested against a good offense this year though. Panther kicker John Kasay had a bit of a bumpy day kicking, hitting all 4 extra point attempts but only one of three field goal attempts. A 46 yard attempt was blocked, and he missed a 40 yard attempt wide right. He did hit one from 23 yards out. WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW Detroit Lions QB: Mike McMahon had a rough outing this game, going 9/23 for 95 yards and an interception that was returned for a TD. He also had a fumble. McMahon spent most of the game running for his life, his offensive line unable to provide much protection for him. He once again keyed on Az-Zahir Hakim, and also gave a lot of looks to Scotty Anderson. McMahon was pulled several times during the game in favor of Joey Harrington, but Harrington fared no better... if not worse... than McMahon. McMahon led one good drive in the game which resulted in the Lions only score. He ran the ball in himself on a naked bootleg. The Lion offense looked very bad all together though. Joey Harrington relieved Mike McMahon several times during the game, but wasn't effective. On his first appearance, early in the second quarter, he threw an interception on his second pass. Harrington ended up going 3/7 for 11 yards, plus the interception. The Panthers blitzed him relentlessly when he was in the game, forcing Harrington to throw before he wanted to and rattling the young QB. Harrington looked as sloppy in this game as he did in the first. He is not ready to lead the offense yet. RB: James Stewart started and played the entire game after being pulled form last weeks game because of his knee. Stewart ran well enough when he had opportunity, but was ineffective due to the Lions poor blocking and offensive performance. He did break a nice run of 21 yards, but ended up rushing only 12 times for 53 yards with a 4.4 yard average. Stewart can produce when given the chance, but with the rest of the offense performing so poorly, good performances will be few and far between. WR: Az-Zahir Hakim was ineffective due to the poor pass blocking of the Lions offensive line. He had only 1 reception for 15 yards in the game. He was getting open and getting looks form McMahon, but Mike McMahon and Joey Harrington had absolutely no time to set and make good throws. Scotty Anderson had two receptions for 31 yards, one of which was the best pass play of the day for the Lions, a nice 21 yarder form McMahon. Again, the Lion receivers had as poor outing due to the ineffective Lion pass protection. Bill Schroeder once again had no receptions this game. He was largely ignored, though did get one shot down field thrown his way by McMahon, which was luckily broken up by the Panther defender... if it hadn't been tipped, it probably would have been a TD. TE: Mikhael Ricks got a number of looks from McMahon, but went 3/28. Ricks played well and could be a factor if the Lions can get themselves together offensively. K: Jason Hanson had only one extra point and no field goal attempts due to the Lions poor performance. If the Lions cannot improve and move the ball, Hanson might be in for a long and unproductive season. Pass Defense: One word... Horrible. Allowed receivers to get wide open all day and Rodney Peete to pick them apart. No pass rush to speak of. Rush Defense: The Lions managed to contain the Panther run attack fairly well, allowing only 79 yards on the ground combined between four Carolina rushers.... the lone bright spot in an otherwise terrible performance. /**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/** Carolina Panthers QB: Rodney Peete had his best performance in years, throwing for over 300 yards and a TD. Peete looked calm and poised in the pocket, and was well protected all day. He threw with nice touch, including his only TD pass to Muhsin Muhammad, a beautiful 22 yard toss that was perfectly placed. Peete locked onto Muhammad all game, giving him the far majority of looks and connecting with him 8 times for over one hundred yards, although his longest pass went to Lamar Smith (58 yards). Peete should not be expected to put such numbers up regularly, as this was against a hapless Lion defense. He was relieved late in the game so Weinke could get some reps. Chris Weinke came in late in the fourth quarter in relief of Rodney Peete. He was sent in to get some reps... he threw one pass that was incomplete. RB: Lamar Smith had a bit of a hard day rushing, going 21/56 with a TD... that's a 2.7 yard per carry average. The Lions did a fair job of bottling Smith up on the ground, but Smith made up for it with 3 receptions for 77 yards and a TD. He had a nice 58 yard reception. Unless he improves his running game, he might be in trouble when DeShaun Foster makes his return. WR: Muhsin Muhammad had a very good day, going 8/107 and a TD. Rodney Peete locked onto Muhammad and gave him the far majority of looks. His TD catch came on a well placed Peete pass from 22 yards out. Muhammad is the main offensive weapon of the Panther offense right now. But be aware - against a stronger defense with a more capable secondary he might not fare as well. Steve Smith had a decent outing, going 4/71. He ran his routes well and was the second read, resulting in a decent amount of looks from Peete, but no where near the number of Muhammad's. Smith might get some passes when Muhammad is well covered, but probably won't be a factor against stronger defenses. TE: Wesley Walls got few looks from Peete and caught only one pass for twenty yards. He did have one incomplete that was challenged by Carolina but was upheld as incomplete. Considering how Peete picked a part the Lion secondary, it is not a good sign that he didn't look more often to Walls, especially in the red zone. K: John Kasay missed 2 of three field goals. One (46 yards) was blocked, and he missed wide right on the other (40 yard) attempt. He did hit all four extra points. Pass Defense: The Panthers pressured the Lions QB's all day long, resulting in six sacks of Mike McMahon and Julius Peppers forcing a fumble that was recovered by the Panthers. Peppers had a great day, providing three of the Panther sacks also. He drilled Mike McMahon at the end of the first half, leaving him motionless on the field for a few minutes. McMahon recovered enough to play the second half. The Lions were horrible on Offense, and the Panthers probably won't have such a good day against stronger offenses. Rush Defense: The Panthers contained the Lions rushing attack well, allowing James Stewart only one good run. They played very well and shut down the Lions completely. They might not perform as well against a good offense.