Our Lions vs Panthers prediction closes the Sunday schedule in the small hours, and it should be worth the lost sleep. Squawka Signal’s live read updates on this page through the week.
The Detroit Lions have conceded 13 touchdowns and 898 passing yards, both league highs. The Carolina Panthers have allowed 580 rushing yards at 5.7 a carry, also a league high. Bank of America Stadium should be busy.
Lions vs Panthers: our editor’s props
Two editorial calls to sit alongside the live Signal numbers on this page.
AT 
Our props
An editorial call, not a Signal model output. 18+ | BeGambleAware.org
Lions vs Panthers: 2026 form so far
Two defences picked apart in different ways, one through the air and one on the ground. The table below lines each attack up against what the opposite defence has permitted.
Lions attack against the Panthers defence
| Per game | Lions offence | Panthers allow |
|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | 247.7 | 172.3 |
| Rushing yards | 120.7 | 193.3 |
| Yards per carry | 4.4 | 5.7 |
| Passer rating | 116.1 | 79.0 |
| Touchdowns | 4.0 | 3.3 |
| Third-down conversion | 41.2% | 45.2% |
| Red-zone conversion | 78.6% | 85.7% |
| Sacks conceded / recorded | 2.3 | 2.0 |
Panthers attack against the Lions defence
| Per game | Panthers offence | Lions allow |
|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | 295.7 | 299.3 |
| Rushing yards | 97.0 | 117.3 |
| Yards per carry | 4.3 | 4.4 |
| Passer rating | 95.6 | 110.2 |
| Touchdowns | 3.3 | 4.3 |
| Third-down conversion | 36.8% | 56.1% |
| Red-zone conversion | 61.5% | 84.6% |
| Sacks conceded / recorded | 2.3 | 4.0 |
Read these as a 3-game sample rather than settled form. Rates this early move a long way on one result.
Detroit concede 84.6% of red-zone trips and Carolina 85.7%, the two worst rates in the league. That points at the total rather than the handicap.
Lions vs Panthers quarterback matchup
Jared Goff has not thrown an interception this season. Bryce Young has attempted more passes than all but two quarterbacks in the league.
| Team | Quarterback | Last game | Season to date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | Jared Goff | 25/32, 269 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT, 122.5 rtg | 77/109, 802 yds, 8 TD, 0 INT, 116.1 rtg (3 games) |
| Panthers | Bryce Young | 26/48, 291 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 70.7 rtg | 72/121, 939 yds, 7 TD, 2 INT, 96.4 rtg (3 games) |
Lions vs Panthers injury report and team news
Jared Goff has eight touchdown passes without an interception in three games, at a 116.1 rating.
Bryce Young threw 48 times for 291 yards at Cleveland and has 939 passing yards this season, more than any other quarterback.
This section updates as soon as the Out, Doubtful and Questionable tags land.
Where Lions vs Panthers is decided
Detroit have conceded 13 touchdowns and 898 passing yards, the highest totals in the league, and are still 2-1 because Goff has been faultless.
Carolina’s problem is the run. Five hundred and eighty rushing yards at 5.7 a carry, and Chicago put 59 points on them in Week 1.
Both sides concede in the red zone at 84.6% and 85.7%. Neither is likely to be stopped once they get close, which is the whole argument for the over.
Players to watch
- Jared Goff (DET, QB): 25 of 32 for 269 yards and two touchdowns against the Jets.
- Jahmyr Gibbs (DET, RB): 99 rushing yards and two touchdowns plus 65 receiving.
- Bryce Young (CAR, QB): 291 yards from 48 attempts at Cleveland.
- Chuba Hubbard (CAR, RB): 19 carries for 82 yards in Week 3.
How to watch Lions vs Panthers
Kickoff is 1.20am BST in the early hours of Monday 5 October at Bank of America Stadium, which is 8:20 PM ET on Sunday. Sky Sports has the UK coverage and NFL Game Pass on DAZN carries every game of the season, live or on demand. Sky takes one exclusive pick from each of the Sunday 6pm and 9pm windows, and those two reach Game Pass 24 hours after the final whistle. Squawka may earn a commission if you subscribe through that link.
| Detail | Lions vs Panthers |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, October 4, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 1.20am BST Monday / 8:20 PM ET Sunday |
| Venue | Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC |
| TV | DAZN / NFL Game Pass |
| Live stream | NFL Game Pass (DAZN) |
| Week | Week 4, 2026 NFL season |
Lions vs Panthers prediction and score projection
Our Lions vs Panthers prediction is a Detroit win, 31-24. The Lions have the better quarterback and the better running back, and Carolina cannot stop the run.
The live win probability and the model’s projected margin update on this page through the week.
Every Week 4 game, previewed
| Kickoff (BST) | Game | Our prediction | Preview |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 1:15 AM | Steelers @ Browns | Browns 20-17 | Read |
| Sun 2:30 PM | Colts @ Commanders | Commanders 27-24 | Read |
| Sun 6:00 PM | Cardinals @ Giants | Cardinals 24-20 | Read |
| Sun 6:00 PM | Cowboys @ Texans | Cowboys 27-24 | Read |
| Sun 6:00 PM | Packers @ Buccaneers | Packers 23-20 | Read |
| Sun 6:00 PM | Jaguars @ Bengals | Jaguars 24-20 | Read |
| Sun 6:00 PM | Rams @ Eagles | Rams 24-20 | Read |
| Sun 6:00 PM | Patriots @ Bills | Bills 30-16 | Read |
| Sun 6:00 PM | Jets @ Bears | Bears 27-24 | Read |
| Sun 6:00 PM | Titans @ Ravens | Ravens 27-13 | Read |
| Sun 9:05 PM | Dolphins @ Vikings | Vikings 24-13 | Read |
| Sun 9:25 PM | Broncos @ 49ers | 49ers 31-17 | Read |
| Sun 9:25 PM | Chiefs @ Raiders | Chiefs 27-24 | Read |
| Sun 9:25 PM | Chargers @ Seahawks | Seahawks 27-17 | Read |
| Mon 1:20 AM | Lions @ Panthers | Lions 31-24 | You are here |
| Tue 1:15 AM | Falcons @ Saints | Saints 26-23 | Read |
Every fixture in the round is covered across our NFL UK hub, and the 32 club pages sit on the NFL teams hub.
Lions vs Panthers FAQ
1.20am BST in the early hours of Monday 5 October, which is 8:20 PM ET on Sunday.
Sky Sports has the coverage and NFL Game Pass on DAZN carries every game of the season, live or on demand. Sky holds one exclusive pick in each of the Sunday 6pm and 9pm windows, and those two reach Game Pass 24 hours after the final whistle. Channel 5 and 5ACTION carry the week’s free-to-air games, and those are not blacked out.
No. Night games are never blacked out in the UK. The blackout applies only to Sky’s two Sunday exclusive picks from the 6pm and 9pm windows.
Detroit have conceded 13 touchdowns and Carolina 10, and the two sides concede 84.6% and 85.7% of red-zone trips.
18+ | Please gamble responsibly | BeGambleAware.org | Signal probabilities approximate at time of writing and subject to change