Lions and Panthers set for Sunday night matchup

The Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers were scheduled to meet Sunday night in Charlotte in a matchup between two productive offenses and defenses that had allowed substantial points through the first three weeks of the NFL season. The reports available before kickoff described the game as upcoming and provided no result. Detroit entered at 2-1, averaging 31 points scored and 31.7 allowed per game. Carolina was 1-2, averaging 29.7 points scored and 27.7 allowed. Both teams had shown the capacity to score, while their defenses had struggled to prevent opponents from doing so. The Lions’ 31.7 points allowed per game was the league’s highest mark at that point, according to the pregame statistics. The Panthers were due to host the game at Bank of America Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. Carolina was returning to Sunday Night Football for the first time since 2015, according to one report. The matchup also brought together Detroit quarterback Jared Goff, who had thrown eight touchdown passes without an interception through three games, and Carolina quarterback Bryce Young, who had 939 passing yards and seven touchdown passes.