Lions 49, Panthers 35
Matthew Stafford matched his career high with five touchdown passes, including the go-ahead strike to Brandon Pettigrew with 2:36 left, and the Detroit Lions handed the Carolina Panthers their 12th consecutive road loss with a 49-35 victory Sunday at Ford Field.
It was Stafford's fourth career game with four or more touchdown passes, a franchise record. Three of those scores came in the second half, leading the Lions (7-3) back from a 27-14 halftime deficit.
With Jahvid Best (concussion) missing a fourth consecutive game, Kevin Smith took advantage of his opportunity for the Lions, rushing for 140 yards and two touchdowns and added a receiving touchdown.
Signed earlier this month to add depth with Best injured, Smith recorded the fourth 100-yard rushing game of his career and his first since Week 3 of the 2009 season.
The Panthers (2-8) struggled to move the ball in the second half. They managed only 58 total yards in the third quarter – and 26 of them came on one play.
Carolina quarterback Cam Newton rushed for two touchdowns, giving him nine for the season, the most by a rookie quarterback since the NFL merger in 1970.
Newton also threw a career-worst four interceptions.