NFL
Panthers stop Lions’ late drive to seal 32–26 win
Chuba Hubbard and Tetairoa McMillan scored twice each as Carolina stopped Detroit’s final possession on downs to win 32–26 on Sunday night.
Panthers 32, Lions 26
The Carolina Panthers beat the Detroit Lions 32–26 in Charlotte on Sunday, October 4, after Will Lee III and Lathan Ransom stopped Isaac TeSlaa one yard short on Detroit’s final fourth-down attempt.
Princely Umanmielen’s six-yard sack of Jared Goff at the two-minute warning pushed Detroit back. Goff’s 12-yard completion to TeSlaa on fourth-and-13 failed to extend the last drive, and Bryce Young finished the game with two kneels.
Chuba Hubbard rushed 20 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Tetairoa McMillan caught 14 passes for 192 yards and two scores, while Young completed 29 of 41 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns.
The teams were tied 16–16 at halftime. Young’s 10-yard touchdown pass to McMillan and Hubbard’s two-yard scoring run put Carolina ahead in the third quarter. Ryan Fitzgerald’s 33-yard field goal with 8:59 left in the fourth extended the lead to 32–19. Goff found Sam LaPorta for an eight-yard touchdown with 3:38 remaining, and Jake Bates’ extra point made it 32–26.
Goff completed 32 of 52 passes for 412 yards and one touchdown. Bates made all four of his field-goal attempts. Detroit finished with 452 total yards to Carolina’s 445, but Carolina rushed for 127 yards to Detroit’s 46.
Carolina’s official game report said right tackle Monroe Freeling left with a knee injury and outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips left with a hamstring issue. Neither returned.
Final score and game record
Saved final snapshot checked 2026-10-05T03:46:07.680314+00:00. Connecting to ESPN.
Detroit Lions
26Away
Carolina Panthers
32HomeBank of America Stadium
Quarter scoring
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DET | 3 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 26 |
| CAR | 7 | 9 | 13 | 3 | 32 |
Game statistics
| Statistic | DET | CAR |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 452 | 445 |
| Net passing yards | 406 | 318 |
| Rushing yards | 46 | 127 |
| First downs | 24 | 28 |
| Third downs | 4-12 | 5-12 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Possession time | 26:45 | 33:15 |
Scoring timeline
Q4 | 3:38 remaining | DET 26, CAR 32
Sam LaPorta 8 Yd pass from Jared Goff (Jake Bates Kick)
Q4 | 8:59 remaining | DET 19, CAR 32
Ryan Fitzgerald 33 Yd Field Goal
Q3 | 2:47 remaining | DET 19, CAR 29
Chuba Hubbard 2 Yd Rush (Ryan Fitzgerald Kick)
Q3 | 6:21 remaining | DET 19, CAR 22
Jake Bates 26 Yd Field Goal
Q3 | 9:33 remaining | DET 16, CAR 22
Tetairoa McMillan 10 Yd pass from Bryce Young (Ryan Fitzgerald PAT Failed)
Q2 | 0:00 remaining | DET 16, CAR 16
Jake Bates 41 Yd Field Goal
Q2 | 0:28 remaining | DET 13, CAR 16
Ryan Fitzgerald 47 Yd Field Goal
Q2 | 2:14 remaining | DET 13, CAR 13
Jahmyr Gibbs 1 Yd Rush (Jake Bates Kick)
Q2 | 8:08 remaining | DET 6, CAR 13
Tetairoa McMillan 32 Yd pass from Bryce Young (Ryan Fitzgerald PAT Failed)
Q2 | 12:37 remaining | DET 6, CAR 7
Jake Bates 43 Yd Field Goal
Q1 | 1:50 remaining | DET 3, CAR 7
Chuba Hubbard 15 Yd Rush (Ryan Fitzgerald Kick)
Q1 | 12:05 remaining | DET 3, CAR 0
Jake Bates 54 Yd Field Goal
Data: ESPN Gamecast. Official NFL Week 4 schedule. Scheduled times above are Mountain Time and Eastern Time.
Game updates
9:25 p.m. Mountain Time, LaPorta brings Detroit within six: Sam LaPorta caught Jared Goff’s eight-yard touchdown pass with 3:38 remaining in the fourth quarter. Jake Bates’ extra point cut Carolina’s lead to 32–26. Detroit covered 67 yards in 10 plays, with LaPorta converting fourth-and-five on a seven-yard catch. Earlier, Carolina stopped Detroit on downs, then punted before the touchdown drive. Source: ESPN game record.
9:00 p.m. Mountain Time, Fitzgerald extends the lead: Ryan Fitzgerald’s 33-yard field goal with 8:59 remaining in the fourth quarter put Carolina ahead 32–19. The Panthers covered 72 yards in 13 plays. Source: ESPN game record.
8:38 p.m. Mountain Time, Hubbard scores again: Chuba Hubbard’s two-yard touchdown run with 2:47 remaining in the third quarter extended Carolina’s lead to 29–19 after Ryan Fitzgerald’s extra point. Hubbard ran 25 yards on the previous play, and the Panthers covered 85 yards in seven plays. It was his second rushing touchdown of the game. Source: ESPN game record.
8:25 p.m. Mountain Time, Bates cuts the deficit: Jake Bates’ 26-yard field goal with 6:21 remaining in the third quarter cut Carolina’s lead to 22–19. It was his fourth field goal of the game. Source: ESPN game record.
8:22 p.m. Mountain Time, Young finds McMillan again: Bryce Young’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Tetairoa McMillan with 9:33 remaining in the third quarter put Carolina ahead 22–16. The Panthers covered 76 yards in 11 plays, and Ryan Fitzgerald’s extra point went wide right. It was McMillan’s second touchdown catch of the game. Source: ESPN game record.
7:54 p.m. Mountain Time, halftime: Jake Bates’ 41-yard field goal as the second-quarter clock expired tied Lions–Panthers at 16–16. It was his third field goal of the half. Source: ESPN game record.
7:51 p.m. Mountain Time, Fitzgerald restores Carolina’s lead: Ryan Fitzgerald’s 47-yard field goal with 28 seconds remaining in the second quarter put the Panthers ahead 16–13. Source: ESPN game record.
7:36 p.m. Mountain Time, Gibbs ties the score: Jahmyr Gibbs’ one-yard touchdown run with 2:14 remaining in the second quarter brought Detroit level at 13–13 after Jake Bates’ extra point. The Lions covered 68 yards in 11 plays. Source: ESPN game record.
7:21 p.m. Mountain Time, Young finds McMillan: Bryce Young’s 32-yard touchdown pass to Tetairoa McMillan with 8:08 remaining in the second quarter extended Carolina’s lead to 13–6. Ryan Fitzgerald’s extra point hit the right upright. The Panthers covered 75 yards in nine plays. Source: ESPN game record.
7:16 p.m. Mountain Time, Detroit closes the gap: Jake Bates’ 43-yard field goal with 12:37 remaining in the second quarter cut Carolina’s lead to 7–6. It was Bates’ second field goal of the game. Source: ESPN game record.
7:01 p.m. Mountain Time, Hubbard puts Carolina ahead: Chuba Hubbard’s 15-yard touchdown run with 1:50 left in the first quarter gave the Panthers a 7–3 lead after Ryan Fitzgerald’s extra point. Carolina covered 72 yards in eight plays, including Bryce Young’s 21-yard completion to Tetairoa McMillan before the touchdown. Source: ESPN game record.
6:33 p.m. Mountain Time, Detroit scores first: Jake Bates’ 54-yard field goal with 12:05 remaining in the first quarter gave the Lions a 3–0 lead. Detroit’s opening possession covered 29 yards in seven plays. Source: ESPN game record.
5:06 p.m. Mountain Time, Carolina inactives: The Panthers ruled Jalen Coker inactive after listing him as questionable. Carolina’s other inactives are Ja’Tavion Sanders, Haynes King, Damien Lewis, Albert Reese and Cam Jackson. King is designated the emergency third quarterback. Corey Bullock will replace Lewis at left guard. Source: official Panthers inactive announcement.
4:56 p.m. MT, Detroit inactives: D.J. Reed is active after being listed as questionable with a rib injury. The Lions’ inactive players are Ben Bartch, Bishop Fitzgerald, Devin White, Tyler Conklin, Mekhi Wingo and Ahmed Hassanein. Bartch is out with a foot injury; Detroit identified the other five as healthy scratches. Source: official Lions inactive announcement. Carolina’s game-day inactive list has not yet been verified.
8:14 a.m. MT, availability update: Carolina placed Xavier Legette on injured reserve Saturday and elevated receiver Ja’seem Reed and cornerback Robert Rochell. Right tackle Monroe Freeling cleared the concussion protocol and is available. Jalen Coker remained questionable in the team’s announcement; the Sunday inactive list is still pending. Source: Panthers roster announcement.
6:18 a.m. MT, availability: Carolina has ruled out Xavier Legette and Damien Lewis. Jalen Coker and Monroe Freeling are among the Panthers listed as questionable. Detroit has ruled out Ben Bartch and lists D.J. Reed as questionable. Sources: Panthers injury report and Lions injury report. The official game-day inactive lists are still pending.
Pregame: This game is scheduled for 6:20 PM MDT. Scores and game statistics will appear after kickoff.
Game and viewing information
Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers meet Sunday, October 4, at Bank of America Stadium. Scheduled kickoff is 6:20 PM MDT, 8:20 PM ET. This game page carries the provider’s score, quarter totals, game statistics and scoring timeline.
Our Week 4 watch guide lists the U.S. networks, Canadian coverage and regional restrictions.
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Sources and notes
- Game record: ESPN, October 4 at 9:46 p.m. Mountain Time. Official Final: Carolina 32, Detroit 26. Final score, complete scoring plays, late fourth-down stop, player and team statistics checked. Goff’s 12-yard completion on fourth-and-13 did not extend Detroit’s final possession; Young finished with two kneels. Player passing yards are gross totals: Young 329 and Goff 412. The team panel shows net passing yards after sacks: Carolina 318 and Detroit 406. Event, teams, season and scheduled kickoff verified. All earlier game updates and source records are preserved. https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401872978/lions-panthers
- Carolina final report: complete available official written Rapid Reactions reviewed October 4 at 9:46 p.m. Mountain Time. Final result and relevant performances corroborated. Monroe Freeling left with a knee injury and Jaelan Phillips with a hamstring issue; neither returned. This is written game reporting, not a reviewed postgame interview. https://www.panthers.com/news/rapid-reactions-panthers-deliver-in-prime-time-beating-lions-with-big-play-offense
- Detroit inactives: complete official announcement reviewed at 4:56 p.m. and rechecked at 9:11 p.m. Mountain Time. D.J. Reed is active; Ben Bartch, Bishop Fitzgerald, Devin White, Tyler Conklin, Mekhi Wingo and Ahmed Hassanein are inactive. Bartch is the injury absence; the other five are healthy scratches. https://www.detroitlions.com/news/inactives-lions-at-panthers-bartch-reed
- Carolina inactives: complete official announcement reviewed at 5:06 p.m. and rechecked at 9:11 p.m. Mountain Time. Ja’Tavion Sanders, Haynes King (emergency third quarterback), Jalen Coker, Damien Lewis, Albert Reese and Cam Jackson are inactive. Corey Bullock replaces Lewis at left guard. https://www.panthers.com/news/week-4-inactives-vs-detroit-jalen-coker-out-this-week-sunday-night-football-lions
- Photograph: official Detroit Lions gallery, image 2 of 15, inspected October 4 at 5:54 p.m. Mountain Time. The source caption identifies Amon-Ra St. Brown before this October 4 game in Charlotte. Jeff Nguyen / Detroit Lions; pregame photograph. https://www.detroitlions.com/photos/lions-at-panthers-week-4-photos
