DETROIT — The Detroit Lions were without arguably their best player and a dynamic rookie on offense.
Detroit didn’t miss a beat.
Jared Goff threw three touchdown passes in the first half and ran for another score in the fourth quarter, lifting the Lions to a 42-24 victory over the winless Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Detroit scored at least 27 points in consecutive first halves for the first time in franchise history and topped 20 points in a team-record 14th game in a row despite missing receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
“These guys who have been asked to step up are making plays,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “We’re not getting any drop-off.”
The NFC North-leading Lions (4-1) are alone atop the division in October or later for the first time since 2016 and have won 12 of their last 15 games dating to last season.
The Panthers (0-5) turned the ball over three times in the first half — two coming on consecutive snaps — to set up Detroit up for three touchdowns and a 28-10 halftime lead.
“We knew they have an explosive offense, but we made the game much too easy for them,” Carolina coach Frank Reich said.
Carolina rookie quarterback Bryce Young was picked off twice in the first half and Miles Sanders lost a fumble.
Young, the No. 1 overall pick, was 25 of 41 for 247 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. The former Alabama star entered the game with two touchdowns, two interceptions and two lost fumbles in three starts.
“It doesn’t matter what success I had in college,” Young said. “I’m no different than anyone else on the team at this point.”
Goff was 20 of 28 for 236 yards, and his 1-yard sneak early in the fourth put Detroit ahead 35-10.
“Love where his confidence is at,” Campbell said. “He was on fire.”
David Montgomery, with 109 yards rushing, became the first Lion to run for 100-plus yards and score in two straight games since Kevin Jones in 2004. Rookie tight end Sam LaPorta caught two TDs in the first half.
Detroit’s Aidan Hutchinson used his right hand to snag Young’s short pass in the first quarter and became the first NFL defensive lineman to have four interceptions in his first two seasons.
The Panthers bounced back from a 14-0 deficit when Young threw a 1-yard TD pass to Tommy Tremble. Carolina stopped Detroit on fourth down on the ensuing possession.
Turnovers stopped any potential momentum.
The Lions, as if they were toying with Carolina, called a reverse flea-flicker and Goff found LaPorta wide open for a 31-yard touchdown to go ahead 28-7 late in the first half.
The Panthers are at Miami next Sunday.
