Tetairoa McMillan's 192-Yard Night Powers Panthers Past Lions 32-26
Bryce Young throws two touchdown passes as injury-hit Carolina scores on six straight possessions
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File photo: Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young at a fan meet-and-greet at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in July 2024. Photo: Sgt. Andrew Skiver / U.S. Marine Corps, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bryce Young threw two touchdown passes to Tetairoa McMillan, who caught 14 passes for a career-high 192 yards, as the Carolina Panthers beat the Detroit Lions 32-26 on Sunday night, the Associated Press reported.
Young completed 29 of 41 passes for 329 yards with no turnovers, and Chuba Hubbard ran 20 times for a season-high 122 yards and two touchdowns. Carolina scored on six straight possessions after punting on its opening drive, AP said.
McMillan carries a depleted receiving corps
With Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette out injured, Young leaned heavily on McMillan, the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year. He had nine catches for 147 yards in the first half, including a 32-yard touchdown, and added a 10-yard score on the opening drive of the second half.
According to AP, McMillan joined Steve Smith Sr. and Patrick Jeffers as the only Panthers players with at least 10 receptions, 150 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a game.
"Everything just clicked tonight," McMillan said. "There were some plays throughout the week that we may not have hit on, but (offensive coordinator) Brad Idzik called the plays and Bryce trusted it."
"I know what kind of player he is. He's special," Young said. "I always trust him."
Lions fall short despite Goff's 412 yards
Jared Goff threw for 412 yards and a touchdown for Detroit, and kicker Jake Bates made all four of his field-goal attempts, including a 41-yarder as time expired in the first half that tied the game 16-16, the Lions' official website reported. Jameson Williams had six catches for 102 yards.
Sam LaPorta's 8-yard touchdown catch cut the lead to 32-26 with 3:38 left. Detroit got the ball back at its own 13 with 2:12 remaining but failed to convert on fourth-and-13 after a sack.
"We got ourselves in a hole there, which is frustrating," Lions coach Dan Campbell said. "At the end of the day, we had our opportunities."
It was the third time in four games that Detroit had allowed at least 30 points, according to DetroitLions.com. Both teams are now 2-2. The Lions visit Arizona next Sunday, while the Panthers have a bye before visiting Philadelphia on Oct. 18.
Sources: Associated Press (via ABC News); DetroitLions.com
