Detroit Lions vs. Carolina Panthers: 2022 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season on 2022-12-24, the Carolina Panthers took care of business against the Detroit Lions, pulling away with a 37–23 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Goff (Detroit Lions) paced the passing game, with +17.97 total EPA, and -2.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Goff (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +17.97 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-15.1% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Detroit Lions changed the game: (14:20) 16-J.Goff FUMBLES (Aborted) at CAR 9, RECOVERED by CAR-97-Y.Gross-Matos at CAR 9.

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. Goff · Detroit Lions · Passing · +17.97 total EPA · 50 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
2. 2 S. Darnold · Carolina Panthers · Passing · +15.03 total EPA · 25 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Moore · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +8.80 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.26 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Chark · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +7.44 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.49 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Foreman · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +7.22 total EPA · 21 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Zylstra · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +6.35 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.06 EPA/play
7. 7 K. Raymond · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +4.03 total EPA · 1 snaps · +4.03 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Marshall · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +3.16 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.05 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

• Carolina Panthers — R. Blackshear (Q1 57:02)
• Detroit Lions — S. Zylstra (J. Goff pass) (Q1 53:43)
• Carolina Panthers — S. Darnold (Q2 39:40)
• Carolina Panthers — D. Foreman (Q2 32:12)
• Carolina Panthers — D. Moore (S. Darnold pass) (Q3 24:19)
• Detroit Lions — S. Zylstra (J. Goff pass) (Q3 18:16)
• Detroit Lions — S. Zylstra (J. Goff pass) (Q4 3:50)

Field goals

• Carolina Panthers — E. Pineiro (Q2 30:02)
• Carolina Panthers — E. Pineiro (Q4 13:17)
• Carolina Panthers — E. Pineiro (Q4 2:00)
• Detroit Lions — M. Badgley (Q4 0:40)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the DET 7 (Q1 57:02) — (12:02) (Shotgun) 20-R.Blackshear right end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q1 56:57) — 4-E.Pineiro extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CAR 3 (Q1 53:43) — (8:43) 16-J.Goff pass short right to 84-S.Zylstra for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q1 53:38) — 17-M.Badgley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox..

The second quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 17–0. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the DET 3 (Q2 39:40) — (9:40) (Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold left end for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q2 39:35) — 4-E.Pineiro extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the DET 4 (Q2 32:12) — (2:12) 33-D.Foreman up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q2 32:08) — 4-E.Pineiro extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the DET 18 (Q2 30:02) — (:02) 4-E.Pineiro 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker..

The third quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 7–6. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the DET 5 (Q3 24:19) — (9:19) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass short left to 2-D.Moore for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q3 24:12) — 4-E.Pineiro extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CAR 7 (Q3 18:16) — (3:16) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short right to 84-S.Zylstra for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The fourth quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 10–6. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the DET 22 (Q4 13:17) — (13:17) 4-E.Pineiro 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q4 3:50) — (3:50) (Shotgun) 70-D.Skipper reported in as eligible. 16-J.Goff pass short left to 84-S.Zylstra for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q4 3:46) — 17-M.Badgley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the DET 18 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 4-E.Pineiro 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the CAR 16 (Q4 0:40) — (:40) 17-M.Badgley 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox..

Turning points

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

• Detroit Lions (Q2 44:20) — (14:20) 16-J.Goff FUMBLES (Aborted) at CAR 9, RECOVERED by CAR-97-Y.Gross-Matos at CAR 9. [WPA -15.1% · EPA -5.49]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 56:46) — (11:46) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass deep left to 4-D.Chark to CAR 21 for 39 yards (21-J.Chinn) [98-M.Haynes]. [WPA +9.0% · EPA +4.08]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 58:51) — (13:51) (Shotgun) 30-C.Hubbard up the middle to DET 18 for 35 yards (31-K.Joseph). [WPA +8.8% · EPA +2.42]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 43:28) — (13:28) 75-C.Erving reported in as eligible. 33-D.Foreman up the middle to DET 35 for 38 yards (1-J.Okudah). [WPA +8.7% · EPA +2.34]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 38:30) — (8:30) (Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass deep left to 88-T.Marshall to CAR 44 for 36 yards (39-J.Jacobs). [WPA +8.5% · EPA +2.72]

Impact plays

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

• Detroit Lions (Q2 44:20) — (14:20) 16-J.Goff FUMBLES (Aborted) at CAR 9, RECOVERED by CAR-97-Y.Gross-Matos at CAR 9. [WPA -15.1% · EPA -5.49]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 24:51) — (9:51) (Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass deep middle to 2-D.Moore to DET 5 for 47 yards (1-J.Okudah). [WPA +2.7% · EPA +4.91]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 56:46) — (11:46) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass deep left to 4-D.Chark to CAR 21 for 39 yards (21-J.Chinn) [98-M.Haynes]. [WPA +9.0% · EPA +4.08]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 20:39) — (5:39) 16-J.Goff pass deep left to 11-K.Raymond to CAR 15 for 56 yards (8-J.Horn). [WPA +0.3% · EPA +4.03]

Quarterback report card

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

• J.Goff (Detroit Lions) · 50 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -2.3% CPOE · +0.36 EPA/play · +17.97 total EPA
• S.Darnold (Carolina Panthers) · 25 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · +2.9% CPOE · +0.60 EPA/play · +15.03 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 (+0.30 vs +0.14), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Carolina Panthers: 11 drives, +26.55 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• Detroit Lions: 10 drives, +11.50 total EPA, 4 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. Goff (Detroit Lions) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

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

1. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q1 57:02 · DET 7 · Score 0-6
   (12:02) (Shotgun) 20-R.Blackshear right end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q1 56:57 · DET 15 · Score 0-7
   4-E.Pineiro extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.
3. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 53:43 · CAR 3 · Score 6-7
   (8:43) 16-J.Goff pass short right to 84-S.Zylstra for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 53:38 · CAR 15 · Score 7-7
   17-M.Badgley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
5. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 39:40 · DET 3 · Score 7-13
   (9:40) (Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold left end for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 39:35 · DET 15 · Score 7-14
   4-E.Pineiro extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.
7. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 32:12 · DET 4 · Score 7-20
   (2:12) 33-D.Foreman up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 32:08 · DET 15 · Score 7-21
   4-E.Pineiro extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.
9. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 30:02 · DET 18 · Score 7-24
   (:02) 4-E.Pineiro 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.
10. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q3 24:19 · DET 5 · Score 7-30
    (9:19) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass short left to 2-D.Moore for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q3 24:12 · DET 15 · Score 7-31
    4-E.Pineiro extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.
12. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q3 18:16 · CAR 7 · Score 13-31
    (3:16) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short right to 84-S.Zylstra for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q4 13:17 · DET 22 · Score 13-34
    (13:17) 4-E.Pineiro 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.
14. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 3:50 · CAR 1 · Score 19-34
    (3:50) (Shotgun) 70-D.Skipper reported in as eligible. 16-J.Goff pass short left to 84-S.Zylstra for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q4 3:46 · CAR 15 · Score 20-34
    17-M.Badgley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
16. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q4 2:00 · DET 18 · Score 20-37
    (2:00) 4-E.Pineiro 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.
17. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q4 0:40 · CAR 16 · Score 23-37
    (:40) 17-M.Badgley 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.