Panthers vs Lions Predictions, Picks, Odds

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Detroit visits Charlotte for Sunday Night Football, and the Kalshi markets around this one are shifting by the day. The Lions (2-1) arrive as clear favorites on the road, but Carolina (1-2) has found ways to keep games close, and the contracts here reflect that tension.

Let's get into my Lions vs. Panthers prediction and my NFL picks for Sunday Night Football. Be sure to download the Action Network app for more picks and analysis.

PREDICTION

Detroit has pulled away as the preferred side, and it shows in the box score. Jared Goff is yet to throw a pick this year, and Jahmyr Gibbs has punched in four rushing scores already. Pair that with an offense sitting near the top of the league in efficiency, and Carolina's run defense, among the league's leakiest, looks like a mismatch waiting to happen. The gap between the two teams has only grown as the week has gone on.

Carolina isn't just going to roll over, either. Bryce Young has thrown more than almost any quarterback in the league this season, and Chuba Hubbard gives the offense a real ground threat when the line holds up. That's enough to keep this from turning into a blowout on paper, but it doesn't change who the market is backing to leave Charlotte with the win.

TOTAL

If there's one contract built for this matchup, it's the total. Detroit has given up more passing yards and touchdowns than any defense in football, and Carolina has allowed more rushing yards per carry than anyone else. Both teams also rank among the worst in the league at stopping opponents once they reach the red zone. Put that together and you get a game that looks built to go over the number, with Goff and Young both capable of pushing the scoreboard well past 50, and playmakers like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Chuba Hubbard each capable of adding points in a hurry if either defense can't find an answer.

My Pick: Lions

• Lions-Panthers Prediction: Lions (64%), Panthers (36%)
• Lions-Panthers Total: Over/Under 51.5

NFL Sunday Night Football Picks

Week 4 wraps up Sunday night with Jared Goff and the Lions visiting Bryce Young and the Panthers to close out the slate in Charlotte. Two offenses that move the ball, two defenses that haven't stopped much of anything; here's where the clearest opening sits.

Of everything on the board for this one, the total stands out the most. Detroit has given up more passing yards and touchdowns than any defense in the league, and Carolina's run defense has been just as bad in its own right. Both sides also rank among the worst at keeping teams out of the end zone once they reach the red zone. That's two shaky defenses on the same field, which tends to push games like this past the number rather than under it.

Pick: Over 51.5 total points

Detroit Lions vs. Carolina Panthers is scheduled for 8:20 PM ET, live from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.. The game is live on NBC/Peacock.