By David Rogers. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It was a day for making history, and improbable at that.
Even on the coldest day (20 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff) for an NFL game in Bank of America Stadium history, the Carolina Panthers rolled up a team record 570 yards of total offense. After being limited to just 21 yards rushing by the Pittsburgh Steelers a week earlier, Carolina exploded for a franchise record 320 yards on the ground against Detroit while quarterback Sam Darnold completed 15 of 22 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown — and the former USC star also ran for a TD.
What made the Christmas Eve performance by the Panthers even more surprising is that the Detroit defense had allowed an average of just 84 yards rushing per game, previously.
Running back D’Onta Foreman rambled for 165 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries while backfield teammate Chuba Hubbard toted the pigskin 12 times for 125 yards. It is the first time that a tandem of NFL teammates have run for 100 yards or more EACH since the Jacksonville Jaguars duo of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew both ran for 100 yards in 2006.
Carolina’s 240 yards rushing in just the first half also set a franchise record and is the most by any NFL team this season and, according to Panthers’ statisticians, is the third most since at least 1992 behind 251 yards by the Jaguars in 2006 (Taylor, Jones-Drew) and the Buffalo Bills’ 254 yards rushing in 1992 (Thurman Thomas was primary RB).
Lions head coach Dan Campbell didn’t mince words after the game.
“Give credit to those guys over there. Coach Wilks had them ready to go and they came after us,” said Campbell. “They got after us pretty good and that’s a hard pill to swallow there. You say things but ultimately when you play that way, it falls on me. I didn’t have them ready to go. That wasn’t good enough. That was a hungry team we played and we didn’t look as hungry as they did. That’s the bottom line.”
One of the reasons the Panthers may have been “hungry” is because with the win they have an opportunity to shrug off a losing record and win the NFC South Division title, qualifying them for the NFL Playoffs beginning in January. The only requirement: win the next two games, both on the road. That includes on New Year’s Day at Tampa Bay and then Week 18 at New Orleans. Carolina defeated both teams at home in Charlotte, New Orleans in Week 3 (22-14) and Tampa Bay in Week 7 (21-3), so a two-week finishing run to claim the division title is not outside the realm of possibility.
Offense, defense, special teams… Panthers head coach Steve Wilks summed it up in answering a reporter’s question.
“It was a collective effort across the board,” said Wilks.
