‘This Defense Is Bad Bad,’ ‘The Defense Continues to Fail This Team’ — Darius Slay, Lions Writers Rip Detroit After Tetairoa McMillan’s 192-Yard Night
The Detroit Lions’ defense drew renewed criticism Sunday night after Tetairoa McMillan caught 14 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns in the Carolina Panthers’ 32-26 win at Bank of America Stadium.
The loss dropped Detroit to 2-2, and some fans called for coaching changes, including the firing of defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.
Chuba Hubbard ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns for Carolina, which played without starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, both placed on injured reserve during the week, and leading receiver Jalen Coker, who was inactive with a quad injury.
Tetairoa McMillan’s 192-Yard Night Renews Criticism of Lions’ Defense
McMillan, who was targeted 16 times, had nine catches for 147 yards by halftime. His 32-yard touchdown in the second quarter came over the top of cornerback D.J. Reed, who played after being listed as questionable with a rib injury. McMillan added a 10-yard score in the third quarter as Carolina, which punted on its opening drive, scored on its next six possessions and finished with 445 yards.
Colton Pouncy, who covers the Lions, pointed to the defense after the final whistle. “This simply isn’t a sustainable brand of football,” Pouncy wrote on X. “The defense continues to fail this team.”
Detroit entered the game having allowed a league-high 898 passing yards through three weeks, and Carolina added 318 net passing yards on 29-of-41 passing. The Lions have allowed at least 24 points in all four games, including a 41-31 loss at Buffalo in Week 2.
Former Lions cornerback Darius Slay weighed in during the third quarter. “Lions I got a lot of love for y’all but man this defense is bad bad,” Slay wrote on X.
Sheppard is in his sixth season with the Lions and his second as defensive coordinator. He coached Detroit’s linebackers before taking over the defense.
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A Lions podcast account called for a change after the game. “Detroit Lions must fire Kelvin Sheppard,” the account posted.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young entered the game averaging a league-high 313 passing yards per game, and Lions coach Dan Campbell warned about Carolina’s offense when he spoke to reporters during the week. “So, it’s a dangerous team,” Campbell said. “It’s a dangerous offense with Bryce at the helm.”
One fan aimed at the coaching staff. “We are just not good enough. Time to get some new coaching up in here,” the fan wrote.
Dan Campbell’s Coaching Questioned as Lions’ Late Rally Falls Short
Hubbard’s 2-yard touchdown with 2:47 left in the third quarter, one play after he broke tackles on a 25-yard run, put Carolina ahead 29-19. The Panthers finished with 127 rushing yards, and Campbell had flagged their ground game during the week. “But we know that they’re capable of running the football,” he said.
Dennis Cox, co-host of Panthers Playbook, described the game from the Carolina side with the Panthers ahead 29-19. “The Panthers have worn down Detroit’s defense,” Cox wrote on X. “Carolina has their run game going and Lions don’t have much of an answer for anything right now.”
Detroit’s offense moved the ball, finishing with 452 yards, including 406 net passing yards. Jameson Williams caught six passes for 102 yards, and Jake Bates made all four of his field-goal attempts, including a 54-yarder. But the Lions scored two touchdowns in four red-zone trips and ran 15 times for 46 yards against a Carolina defense that entered the game allowing the most rushing yards in the league.
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After reaching the Carolina 15 while down 32-19, Detroit took back-to-back penalties on fourth down to make it fourth-and-20, and a hook-and-ladder came up well short. Jared Goff’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta with 3:38 left made it 32-26, and a sack by DJ Wonnum forced a Carolina punt. But on the final possession, which began with 2:06 left and no timeouts, Goff was sacked and Isaac TeSlaa came up two yards short of a first down on fourth down.
Jeff Risdon, who covers the NFL for RealGM, faulted the coaching after the game. He wrote that “this game is the worst-coached game Dan Campbell has had,” adding, “And that includes him, not just his coordinators/assistants.”
The Lions play at Arizona on Oct. 11. Carolina, also 2-2, plays at Philadelphia on Oct. 18.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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