Friday the Carolina Panthers return home for the 2023 preseason finale to take on the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium.
The Panthers enter the match up 0-2 on the preseason after falling to the New York Giants this past week, 21-19. After trailing 21-3 at halftime, Carolina outscored New York 16-0 in the second half of play to narrow the deficit.
Led by third-year head coach Dan Campbell, the Lions own a 1-1 record in the preseason. In Week Two, Detroit fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 25-7.
Friday’s match up will mark the first time in history these two teams have squared off in the preseason. The two will meet once again in the regular season, as Carolina travels to Detroit in Week Five. The Panthers hold a 8-3 overall record against Detroit in the regular season.
The Matchup
About Carolina
- The Panthers were shut out by the Jets in week one of preseason for the first time since 2000. The last time it happened was Aug. 10, 2000, when the Steelers posted a 20-0 win at Three Rivers Stadium.
- The Panthers put up 235 total yards of offense in week two against the Giants. This number is up from the first preseason game against the Jets, when they posted just 165 yards. The Panthers didn’t turn the ball over once against New York, recording no interceptions and no fumbles. The Giants did not commit any turnovers either.
- In limited preseason snaps quarterback Bryce Young is 7-12 for 56 yards, with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions.
- Quarterback Matt Corral completed nine-of-13 passes for 71 yards against the Giants (82.5 passer rating). In two preseason games, Corral is now 24 of 35 (68.6 completion percentage) 197 yards.
- Expect Carolina’s starters’ playing time to mimic that from week one and two, where they averaged three series.
About Detroit
- The Lions defeated the Giants in week one of the preseason, amassing 327 total yards and allowing New York to convert just 2-13 third down attempts.
- Against the Jaguars in week two Detroit totaled 131 yards of total offense, converting just 1-12 third down attempts.
- Lions’ starting quarterback Jared Goff has yet to play in the preseason, with Nate Sudfeld and newly acquired Teddy Bridgewater carrying the load.
- In two games Sudfeld is 24-46 for 274 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Last week Bridgewater was 5-11 for 34 yards.
- The Lions will likely rest their starters for the final preseason game.
Connections
- Panthers G Michael Jordan is a native of Canton, Mich., and played high school football at Plymouth HS.
- Panthers T Taylor Moton is a native of Okemos, Mich., and played high school football at Okemos HS. Moton also played college football at Western
Michigan from 2012-2016.
- Panthers TE Giovanni Ricci played college football at Western Michigan from 2016-2019.
- Panthers DT Raequan Williams played college football at Michigan State from 2016-2019.
- Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson played high school football at A.C. Reynolds HS in Asheville, N.C. and played college football at North Carolina
from 2004-2007.
- Lions Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Scottie Montgomery is a native of Shelby, N.C. Montgomery went on to play college football at Duke from 1996-1999 and had coaching stints with the Blue Devils from 2006-2009 and 2013-2015.
- Lions Cornerbacks Coach Dre Bly played college football at North Carolina and was on the coaching staff for the Tar Heels from 2019-2022
- Lions Defensive Line Coach John Scott Jr. is a native of Greer, S.C. and coached at South Carolina in 2019.
- Lions DE Romeo Okwara is a native of Charlotte, N.C., playing high school football at Ardrey Kell HS.
- Lions OLB Julian Okwara is a native of Charlotte, N.C., playing high school football at Ardrey Kell HS.
- Lions DL Alim McNeill is a native of Raleigh, N.C., playing high school football at Sanderson HS. McNeill also played college football at North Carolina State from 2018-2020.
Panthers vs Lions
All-Timg Regular Season Series: 11 total matchups | Carolina leads the series 8-3
Last Regular Season Game: 12/24/22 | Carolina 37 vs Detroit 23
Series Record at Venue in Regular Season: The Carolina Panthers hold a 6-1 regular season record against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium
How to Watch
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET CBS – Andrew Catalon (Play by Play), Tiki Barber (Color), Matt Ryan (Color), AJ Ross (Sideline)
Live Stream: Panthers.com
Radio: WRFX 99.7FM in Charlotte market – Anish Shroff (Play by Play), Kurt Coleman (Color), Jim Szoke (Color), Kevin Donnalley (Sideline)
Per Release
UNC Continues to Shine into the Final Stretch