Panthers will start from their 25.
Panthers 2nd and 10 from the 37...SACK! KVB gets to Newton!
3rd and long, Newton goes for it all...but gets nothing, as the ball falls harmlessly between a Panther a 2 Lions' DBs.
The kid has talent, but the accuracy is lacking.
Lions will start from their own 32, a little more than 12 minutes left.
Hand off Smith...off tackle, bounces outside...gets 19 yards! He's up to 6 carries for 86 yards on the day...I did not see this coming.
Stafford with time, Heller for the 1st down! Lions in Panthers' territory.
The Lions' offense becomes a machine. Megatron a catch for for 8, then 3 consecutive runs. Smith for 10, Morris for 9, Morris for 1, Lions 1st and goal from 4!
Smith needs 4 yards for 100 on the day...gets it and a TD on the same run!
Hard to believe Smith was out of football 2 weeks ago...
Lions take a 35-27 lead! WOOOOOOO.
Smith has his 1st 100 yard game since those halcyon days of 2009! He's up to 161 yards from scrimmage as well. Smith has been Best-like today...but not as fragile.
So how odd has this game been? FOX tells us how odd.
I don't think the glove is an issue...
SHIT. Stewart for 26 has the Panthers over midfield. This game ain't over yet.
Newton on a designed run gets 7. Then a swing pass to Williams...SHIT, there's lots of green...but Avril makes a TD saving hair grab...which is mistakenly called a horse collar.
That's hair, not shoulder pads.
No matter, Newton runs it in from the 6, following his center.
Panthers are going for 2, down 35-33. Newton to Smith, caught. 35 all.
Its starting to look as if the last team with the ball wins.
Lions start at their 20...MEGATRON with a great catch at midfield!
TE screen! Pettigrew rumbles for 16 yards, Lions are at the 31!
Smith up the gut for 10...LATE HIT! Refs see it, tack on 15!
Lions 1st and goal at the Panthers' 9 with 2:48 left. Smith gets a couple, Panthers start burning TOs.
Stafford play action...rolls right, Panthers' DB tips the pass away just before it gets to Pettigrew.
3rd and goal from the 7. Stafford says fuck it, I'm going back to Pettigrew...
TOUCHDOWN!
That's 5 TD passes for Stafford! Lions up 42-35!
Newton looks deep down the middle on 1st down...Tulloch gets a hand up...
TIP DRILL...
HARRIS PICKPICKPICK!
A couple of 1st downs should end the game. Lions are going to grind out clock.
A pair of runs net only 3 yards, but also force the Panthers to use up their TOs.
3rd and 7 from the 20, 2:06 left. Smith with the hand off...
JUKE MOVE!
TOUCHDOWN!
Smith's TD is a dagger. Lions up 45-35, 2 minute left!
Panthers down 2 scores, no time outs. Clock running...
Newton quickly drives the Panthers to the Lions 36 with 1:03 left.
Newton in the gun...big pass rush, you'd think he should go down, but swings himself away from a sack, rolls right, throws incomplete pass. Damn. Just...damn.
Newton will throw on 2nd down...
Baited by Tulloch...
PICKPICKPICK!
That twists the dagger.
Lions will take two knees from victory formation.
Game over! Lions win, coming back from 13 down to win 49-35!
I have to admit the game has left me feeling like this...
I hate it when the Lions have to come from multiple scores down...
Game ball has to go to Kevin Smith, who was all but dead in NFL circles 3 weeks ago. Today, he has a career game with 140 yards rushing, 61 receiving, 2 TDs.
Sometimes depth guys have to step up. Today, it was Smith.
