Carolina Panthers vs. Detroit Lions: 2023 Week 5 Recap

Game story

In Week 5 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-10-08, the Detroit Lions took care of business against the Carolina Panthers, pulling away with a 42–24 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 28 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Young (Carolina Panthers) paced the passing game, with +3.85 total EPA, and +2.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Thielen (Carolina Panthers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.88 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+10.4% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Detroit Lions changed the game: (9:50) 5-D.Montgomery up the middle for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 A. Thielen · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +10.88 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.84 EPA/play
2. 2 S. LaPorta · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +5.96 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.49 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Goff · Detroit Lions · Passing · +5.77 total EPA · 30 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Reynolds · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +5.48 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.10 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Montgomery · Detroit Lions · Rushing · +4.60 total EPA · 19 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Young · Carolina Panthers · Passing · +3.85 total EPA · 48 snaps · +0.08 EPA/play
7. 7 K. Raymond · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +3.45 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.15 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Chark · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +3.43 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Detroit Lions — D. Montgomery (Q1 54:50)
• Detroit Lions — S. LaPorta (J. Goff pass) (Q1 49:59)
• Carolina Panthers — T. Tremble (B. Young pass) (Q2 42:52)
• Detroit Lions — J. Reynolds (J. Goff pass) (Q2 33:55)
• Detroit Lions — S. LaPorta (J. Goff pass) (Q2 33:29)
• Detroit Lions — J. Goff (Q4 15:00)
• Carolina Panthers — D. Chark (B. Young pass) (Q4 11:57)
• Detroit Lions — C. Reynolds (Q4 7:32)
• Carolina Panthers — A. Thielen (B. Young pass) (Q4 2:00)

Field goals

• Carolina Panthers — E. Pineiro (Q2 30:10)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 14–0. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CAR 42 (Q1 54:50) — (9:50) 5-D.Montgomery up the middle for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q1 54:41) — 36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CAR 4 (Q1 49:59) — (4:59) 16-J.Goff pass short left to 87-S.LaPorta for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q1 49:53) — 36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox..

The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 14–10. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q2 42:52) — (12:52) (Shotgun) 9-B.Young pass short middle to 82-T.Tremble for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q2 42:48) — 4-E.Pineiro extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q2 33:55) — (3:55) 16-J.Goff pass short middle to 8-J.Reynolds for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q2 33:50) — 36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CAR 31 (Q2 33:29) — (3:29) 16-J.Goff pass short right to 87-S.LaPorta for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q2 33:21) — 36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the DET 15 (Q2 30:10) — (:10) 4-E.Pineiro 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 14–14. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 16-J.Goff up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q4 14:58) — 36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the DET 18 (Q4 11:57) — (11:57) (Shotgun) 9-B.Young pass deep middle to 17-D.Chark for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q4 11:52) — 4-E.Pineiro extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CAR 5 (Q4 7:32) — (7:32) 13-C.Reynolds left tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q4 7:27) — 36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 9-B.Young pass short left to 19-A.Thielen for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q4 1:55) — 4-E.Pineiro extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Detroit Lions (Q1 54:50) — (9:50) 5-D.Montgomery up the middle for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.4% · EPA +3.53]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 40:07) — (10:07) 6-M.Sanders left end to CAR 38 for 1 yard (54-A.McNeill). FUMBLES (54-A.McNeill), RECOVERED by DET-25-W.Harris at CAR 41. 25-W.Harris pushed ob at CAR 38 for 3 yards (82-T.Tremble). [WPA -9.7% · EPA -5.65]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 52:37) — (7:37) (Shotgun) 9-B.Young pass short middle intended for 80-I.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 97-A.Hutchinson at CAR 26. 97-A.Hutchinson to CAR 20 for 6 yards (15-J.Mingo). [WPA -8.6% · EPA -6.18]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 58:10) — (13:10) (Shotgun) 9-B.Young pass deep right to 17-D.Chark to DET 45 for 18 yards (34-A.Anzalone). Detroit challenged the pass completion ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the field stands [WPA +8.3% · EPA +2.79]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 56:16) — (11:16) (Shotgun) 9-B.Young pass incomplete short left [25-W.Harris]. Ball thrown away [WPA -5.6% · EPA -2.13]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Carolina Panthers (Q1 52:37) — (7:37) (Shotgun) 9-B.Young pass short middle intended for 80-I.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 97-A.Hutchinson at CAR 26. 97-A.Hutchinson to CAR 20 for 6 yards (15-J.Mingo). [WPA -8.6% · EPA -6.18]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 40:07) — (10:07) 6-M.Sanders left end to CAR 38 for 1 yard (54-A.McNeill). FUMBLES (54-A.McNeill), RECOVERED by DET-25-W.Harris at CAR 41. 25-W.Harris pushed ob at CAR 38 for 3 yards (82-T.Tremble). [WPA -9.7% · EPA -5.65]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 33:43) — (3:43) (Shotgun) 9-B.Young pass deep left intended for 15-J.Mingo INTERCEPTED by 23-J.Jacobs at CAR 42. 23-J.Jacobs to CAR 31 for 11 yards (68-C.Mays). [WPA -4.7% · EPA -4.61]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 54:50) — (9:50) 5-D.Montgomery up the middle for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.4% · EPA +3.53]

Quarterback report card

B.Young led all passers in efficiency for Carolina Panthers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Young (Carolina Panthers) · 48 dropbacks · 52.1% completion · +2.2% CPOE · +0.08 EPA/play · +3.85 total EPA
• J.Goff (Detroit Lions) · 30 dropbacks · 66.7% completion · +3.1% CPOE · +0.19 EPA/play · +5.77 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Detroit Lions held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.20 vs -0.06), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Carolina Panthers: 10 drives, -5.45 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Detroit Lions: 11 drives, +15.43 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Detroit Lions leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• A. Thielen (Carolina Panthers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Goff (DET) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 54:50 · CAR 42 · Score 0-6
   (9:50) 5-D.Montgomery up the middle for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 54:41 · CAR 15 · Score 0-7
   36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
3. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 49:59 · CAR 4 · Score 0-13
   (4:59) 16-J.Goff pass short left to 87-S.LaPorta for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 49:53 · CAR 15 · Score 0-14
   36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
5. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 42:52 · DET 1 · Score 6-14
   (12:52) (Shotgun) 9-B.Young pass short middle to 82-T.Tremble for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 42:48 · DET 15 · Score 7-14
   4-E.Pineiro extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.
7. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 33:55 · CAR 1 · Score 7-20
   (3:55) 16-J.Goff pass short middle to 8-J.Reynolds for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 33:50 · CAR 15 · Score 7-21
   36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
9. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 33:29 · CAR 31 · Score 7-27
   (3:29) 16-J.Goff pass short right to 87-S.LaPorta for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 33:21 · CAR 15 · Score 7-28
    36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
11. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 30:10 · DET 15 · Score 10-28
    (:10) 4-E.Pineiro 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.
12. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 15:00 · CAR 1 · Score 10-34
    (15:00) 16-J.Goff up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q4 14:58 · CAR 15 · Score 10-35
    36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
14. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q4 11:57 · DET 18 · Score 16-35
    (11:57) (Shotgun) 9-B.Young pass deep middle to 17-D.Chark for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q4 11:52 · DET 15 · Score 17-35
    4-E.Pineiro extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.
16. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 7:32 · CAR 5 · Score 17-41
    (7:32) 13-C.Reynolds left tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
17. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q4 7:27 · CAR 15 · Score 17-42
    36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
18. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q4 2:00 · DET 1 · Score 23-42
    (2:00) (Shotgun) 9-B.Young pass short left to 19-A.Thielen for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
19. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q4 1:55 · DET 15 · Score 24-42
    4-E.Pineiro extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.