Our Lions vs. Panthers prediction takes a look at the Week 16 matchup that carries immense playoff implications. Let’s dive into the current NFL betting odds, key storylines to watch, and make a prediction for the game. Note that all odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook as of Monday, Dec. 19.
Lions vs. Panthers Odds
- Spread
Lions -2.5 - Moneyline
Lions -140, Panthers +120 - Over/Under
44.5 points
Lions vs. Panthers Prediction
At one point this year, the Detroit Lions were 1-6, and Dan Campbell was considered to be on the hot seat in just his second season. Since that point, the team has won six out of their last seven games, and they’ve firmly put themselves in the hunt for the NFC Playoffs.
While the offense came back down to earth a little bit in Week 15 against the tough Jets defense, they did enough to walk away with the victory and keep themselves in the playoff race.
The key storyline for Detroit over this winning stretch has been the play of the defense. Over the last three games, no other team in the NFL is allowing fewer rushing yards than the Lions. They’ve been a suffocating unit up front, and it’s a big reason why they’ve been able to climb out of a massive hole to get to where they are now.
The key for the Lions to win this matchup is going to come back to the offense, though. The Panthers have a solid stable of RBs, but the Lions’ defense should be able to slow them down with the way they’ve been playing recently.
If Detroit can get back to clicking on offense and put up north of 21 points on a defense that’s about middle-of-the-pack when it comes to points allowed per game, they should be able to advance to above .500 for the first time since September 4th, 2019.
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The Panthers now sit at 5-9 on the year after falling in Week 15 to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 24-16. With that being said, they are certainly not out of the running for the NFC South division title and potentially a playoff berth!
They are now 2nd place in the NFC South but find themselves just one game back from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who hold a 6-8 record. The Panthers have shown their tenacity under interim Head Coach Steve Wilks, and that should continue this week against the Lions in a must-win game.
If Carolina wants to make the postseason, they have to win all three of their remaining games. In order to walk out of this matchup with a victory, Carolina is going to need more from their run game on offense.
Against Pittsburgh, the Panthers ran the ball just 16 total times for 21 yards. An offense that hopes to win games regularly cannot have that type of outing routinely, especially against this Lions defense that’s shutting down opposing run games.
If Carolina can find a rhythm on offense that will get their ground game rolling against the Lions, which would keep the opposing offense off the field, the Panthers could pull even with the Buccaneers for the division lead at the end of this week.
Lions vs. Panthers Score Prediction
Lions 24, Panthers 20
