Published September 28, 2026 · By the Goalorithm model desk
Preview
The Detroit Lions visit the Carolina Panthers in the NFL on Sunday, October 4, with kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET. Carolina comes in off a road loss, while Detroit's latest result was a home win.
What the model expects
The model's figures are estimates, not certainties. Its likelier result is a Carolina Panthers win, with the model giving the Carolina Panthers 61.2% and the Detroit Lions 38.9%.
The model projects 31.4 points for the Carolina Panthers and 28.6 for the Detroit Lions, with 60 in all. Its projected margin is the Carolina Panthers by 2.8 points.
Records and recent results
The Detroit Lions have the better record: the Carolina Panthers are 1-2 overall this season, and the Detroit Lions are 2-1. Carolina has 89 points scored and 83 allowed in 3 games; Detroit has 93 points scored and 95 allowed in 3 games.
The Carolina Panthers lost 21-18 on the road to the Cleveland Browns on September 27, and before that beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-3 on the road on September 20. The Detroit Lions beat the New York Jets 31-24 at home on September 27, and before that lost 41-31 on the road to the Buffalo Bills on September 17.