Chuba Hubbard powers Carolina Panthers past Detroit Lions 29-21 with 126 rushing yards

Charlotte, NC - Chuba Hubbard rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown as the Carolina Panthers defeated the Detroit Lions 29-21 in Week 4, finishing with a 225-73 advantage in rushing yards.

Carolina produced 366 offensive yards and 20 first downs, while Detroit finished with 297 offensive yards and 16 first downs. The Panthers leaned toward the ground game, with their rushing total accounting for 225 of those 366 yards.

Hubbard handled 22 carries and recorded a long run of 79 yards. Bryce Young added 37 rushing yards on two attempts, including a long of 21, as Carolina finished with 152 more rushing yards than Detroit.

"The long run is going to get attention, but I'm happiest about the work we put in across 22 carries," Hubbard said. "As a group, 225 rushing yards is something we can take a lot of confidence from."

Young completed 16 of 23 passes for 141 yards, one touchdown and one interception, earning an 81.9 passer rating. His longest completion went for 22 yards. Tetairoa McMillan caught five passes for 55 yards and a touchdown, while Tommy Tremble led Carolina with six receptions and 60 receiving yards.

"There are good things in the completion percentage and the touchdown, but I want the interception back," Young said. "The biggest thing is that we finished with the result we wanted."

Detroit presented a different offensive profile. The Lions gained 224 passing yards compared with Carolina's 141, but their rushing production was limited to 73 yards. Jahmyr Gibbs accounted for all 73 of those rushing yards on 12 carries and also caught five passes for 41 yards.

Jared Goff completed 14 of 22 passes for 204 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He posted a 114.3 passer rating and recorded a long completion of 44 yards. Sam LaPorta supplied Detroit's touchdown production through the air, catching four passes for 62 yards and three scores.

LaPorta's three-touchdown performance stood as the most productive scoring line among the game's receivers, but the Lions struggled to extend possessions. Detroit converted one of seven third-down attempts, compared with Carolina's 4-for-10 showing. Both teams converted their only fourth-down try.

"Three touchdown passes are a positive, and Sam gave us a lot of production," Goff said. "But one conversion in seven tries on third down puts a lot of pressure on everything else. We have to be better there."

The teams also posted different red-zone totals. Carolina made five trips, recording two touchdowns and two field goals. Detroit reached the red zone three times and came away with two touchdowns and no field goals.

Both starting quarterbacks threw one interception. Kerby Joseph recorded Detroit's takeaway and returned it 5 yards. The Panthers' defense finished with two sacks and an interception, while the Lions recorded no sacks and one interception.

Carolina's 69-yard advantage in offensive production was shaped by the sharp contrast on the ground, even as Detroit finished with 83 more passing yards. The Panthers also held a four-first-down advantage and produced more third-down conversions.

For Detroit, Goff's three touchdown passes and LaPorta's three touchdown receptions highlighted an efficient connection in the passing game. Carolina countered with a broader statistical profile that included a 100-yard rusher, two receivers with at least 55 yards and five red-zone appearances.

The result belonged to the Panthers, who left Week 4 with a 29-21 victory at home and one of the week's strongest team rushing totals.

Up Next

Detroit will travel to face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5 as it looks to rebound from the loss. Carolina will next head to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6, looking to follow up its eight-point victory.