Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera rested quarterback Cam Newton in last week’s season opener and the Panthers still beat Tampa Bay 20-14. Newton is expected to start today’s Lions game, and his 2014 debut couldn’t be better timed against an impressive-looking Detroit team.
Detroit and Carolina have played every three years since 2005, their last game being a 49-35 Lions win. In that 2011 game Newton threw four interceptions while the Panthers threw away a 17-point lead. Lions QB Matthew Stafford, meanwhile, threw five touchdown passes as Detroit outscored the Lions 35-8 in the second half.
Though three years have passed, all eyes will be once again on the quarterbacks in today’s Lions / Panthers game.
Lions QB Matthew Stafford last week threw for 346 yards and two touchdowns, both to Calvin Johnson, who had 164 yards on the day. Stafford also ran for two TDs, making him a surprising dual threat.
Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is more often the dual-threat weapon, but fans couldn’t watch the Panthers game last week and see if that tradition would hold. With running back DeAngelo Williams listed as questionable for today’s Lions game, the Panthers will need Newton to use those legs.
That’ll be a tall order against a Lions defense ranked second in the NFL going into today’s game against the Panthers. Newton will be watching out specifically for Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh, whom Newton called “Donkey Kong” Suh during a press conference this week.
You can watch today’s Detroit Lions vs Carolina Panthers game live on TV on FOX. The game kicks off at 1:00pm EST / 10:00am PST at Bank of America Stadium. You can also watch Lions vs Panthers online live free streaming week 2 using the FOX Sports video website or DirecTV’s website. The latter requires you to have an NFL Sunday Ticket MAX package, which requires a subscription. All subscribers can watch the game online free via the DirecTV live stream if they’re stuck using a smartphone, tablet or PC.
