Detroit Lions vs. Carolina Panthers: 2008 Week 11 Recap

Game story

In Week 11 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-11-16, the Carolina Panthers took care of business against the Detroit Lions, pulling away with a 31–22 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 30 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Culpepper (Detroit Lions) paced the passing game, with -12.97 total EPA, and +1.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Stewart (Carolina Panthers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.22 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-24.7% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Detroit Lions changed the game: (4:58) 11-D.Culpepper pass short right intended for 83-J.Owens INTERCEPTED by 30-C.Godfrey at DET 20. 30-C.Godfrey to DET 4 for 16 yards (11-D.Culpepper).

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 J. Stewart · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +7.22 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Johnson · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +6.58 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.10 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Standeford · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +5.37 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.68 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Williams · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +5.02 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
5. 5 Kevin Smith · Detroit Lions · Rushing · +2.35 total EPA · 24 snaps · +0.10 EPA/play
6. 6 Kevin Smith · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.32 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.16 EPA/play
7. 7 S. Smith · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +1.91 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
8. 8 S. McDonald · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +1.85 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.62 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 — C. Johnson (D. Culpepper pass) (Q1 53:15)
• Carolina Panthers — J. King (J. Delhomme pass) (Q2 38:25)
• Carolina Panthers — D. Williams (Q2 32:50)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Stewart (Q2 31:10)
• Detroit Lions — D. Culpepper (Q4 6:07)
• Carolina Panthers — D. Williams (Q4 4:50)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q2 43:04)
• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q2 34:48)
• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q2 30:08)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q3 23:29)

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 7–0. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CAR 29 (Q1 53:15) — (8:15) 11-D.Culpepper pass deep middle to 81-C.Johnson for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by CAR and Upheld. (Timeout #1 at 07:23.); Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q1 52:23) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris..

The second quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 21–9. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the CAR 22 (Q2 43:04) — (13:04) 4-J.Hanson 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the DET 15 (Q2 38:25) — (8:25) 17-J.Delhomme pass short middle to 47-J.King for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 38:19) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the CAR 38 (Q2 34:48) — (4:48) 4-J.Hanson 56 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the DET 56 (Q2 32:50) — (2:50) 34-D.Williams up the middle for 56 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 32:39) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the DET 22 (Q2 31:10) — (1:10) 28-J.Stewart left tackle for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 31:03) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the CAR 17 (Q2 30:08) — (:08) 4-J.Hanson 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris..

The third quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 3–0. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the DET 11 (Q3 23:29) — (8:29) 4-J.Kasay 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker..

The fourth quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 7–6. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q4 6:07) — (6:07) 11-D.Culpepper up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the DET 4 (Q4 4:50) — (4:50) 34-D.Williams right tackle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q4 4:44) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker..

Turning points

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

• Detroit Lions (Q4 4:58) — (4:58) 11-D.Culpepper pass short right intended for 83-J.Owens INTERCEPTED by 30-C.Godfrey at DET 20. 30-C.Godfrey to DET 4 for 16 yards (11-D.Culpepper). [WPA -24.7% · EPA -5.65]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 32:50) — (2:50) 34-D.Williams up the middle for 56 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +17.9% · EPA +5.93]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 32:33) — (2:33) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 86-M.Gaines to DET 38 for 9 yards (92-D.Lewis). Play Challenged by CAR and REVERSED. (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass short left to 86-M.Gaines to DET 38 for 9 yar [WPA -15.2% · EPA -3.51]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 53:15) — (8:15) 11-D.Culpepper pass deep middle to 81-C.Johnson for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by CAR and Upheld. (Timeout #1 at 07:23.) [WPA +13.5% · EPA +4.26]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 10:35) — (10:35) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass short right to 16-J.Standeford to CAR 25 for 16 yards (30-C.Godfrey). [WPA +12.1% · EPA +3.62]

Impact plays

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

• Carolina Panthers (Q2 32:50) — (2:50) 34-D.Williams up the middle for 56 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +17.9% · EPA +5.93]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 4:58) — (4:58) 11-D.Culpepper pass short right intended for 83-J.Owens INTERCEPTED by 30-C.Godfrey at DET 20. 30-C.Godfrey to DET 4 for 16 yards (11-D.Culpepper). [WPA -24.7% · EPA -5.65]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 53:15) — (8:15) 11-D.Culpepper pass deep middle to 81-C.Johnson for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by CAR and Upheld. (Timeout #1 at 07:23.) [WPA +13.5% · EPA +4.26]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 19:52) — (4:52) PENALTY on CAR-82-G.Barnidge, Roughing the Kicker, 15 yards, enforced at DET 43 - No Play. [WPA +8.0% · EPA +3.96]

Quarterback report card

D.Culpepper led all passers in efficiency for Detroit Lions, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Culpepper (Detroit Lions) · 38 dropbacks · 52.6% completion · +1.8% CPOE · -0.34 EPA/play · -12.97 total EPA
• J.Delhomme (Carolina Panthers) · 19 dropbacks · 52.6% completion · -8.7% CPOE · -0.21 EPA/play · -3.92 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Carolina Panthers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.11 vs +0.00), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Carolina Panthers: 13 drives, +8.00 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Detroit Lions: 12 drives, +0.06 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Carolina Panthers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Stewart (Carolina Panthers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Delhomme (CAR) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

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

1. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 53:15 · CAR 29 · Score 6-0
   (8:15) 11-D.Culpepper pass deep middle to 81-C.Johnson for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by CAR and Upheld. (Timeout #1 at 07:23.)
2. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 52:23 · CAR 2 · Score 7-0
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
3. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 43:04 · CAR 22 · Score 10-0
   (13:04) 4-J.Hanson 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
4. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 38:25 · DET 15 · Score 10-6
   (8:25) 17-J.Delhomme pass short middle to 47-J.King for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 38:19 · DET 2 · Score 10-7
   4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
6. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 34:48 · CAR 38 · Score 13-7
   (4:48) 4-J.Hanson 56 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
7. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 32:50 · DET 56 · Score 13-13
   (2:50) 34-D.Williams up the middle for 56 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 32:39 · DET 2 · Score 13-14
   4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
9. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 31:10 · DET 22 · Score 13-20
   (1:10) 28-J.Stewart left tackle for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 31:03 · DET 2 · Score 13-21
    4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
11. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 30:08 · CAR 17 · Score 16-21
    (:08) 4-J.Hanson 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
12. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q3 23:29 · DET 11 · Score 16-24
    (8:29) 4-J.Kasay 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
13. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 6:07 · CAR 1 · Score 22-24
    (6:07) 11-D.Culpepper up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q4 4:50 · DET 4 · Score 22-30
    (4:50) 34-D.Williams right tackle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q4 4:44 · DET 2 · Score 22-31
    4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.