Detroit Lions: Game-by-game predictions for the 2017 season
By Zac Snyder
Week 5: vs. Carolina Panthers
Another slow start to the season is likely to have Jim Caldwell on the hot seat entering week five. It was a similar situation last season but a week five win over the Philadelphia Eagles marked the beginning of a turnaround.
Can the Lions get it turned around again? They did in 2015 after an 0-5 start but it was too big of a hole to overcome.
The Carolina Panthers enter the season something of an unknown. On one hand they are coming off a 6-10 season, but on the other, they are just a year removed from an MVP season by Cam Newton and a Super Bowl appearance. That makes the outlook for this game similar to the season-opener against the Cardinals.
With uncertainty what the Panthers actually are, and a Lions team that could be already forced to fight for their season, this one goes down as a win for now.
Prediction: Win (2-3)