DET @ CAR - 1st homecoming game

Hello CSRs,

Anytime you win on the road it is a good thing. The fact that Carolina won despite losing the turnover battle is also a good sign, even if it was against lowly Oakland. Remember the much hyped Jets last loss was at Oakland where they also lost the turnover battle.

DET @ CAR

Our line: Carolina by 18

As if the records of each team in this match up weren't enough of an indication as to how likely it would be for Detroit to pull off a road win, looking into our rankings certainly slams the door shut on Detroit being able to earn its first win of the season. The visiting team is ranked 32nd by both Win Grade (team fundamentals) and Real Points (strength of schedule). Now normally it is common for the 32nd ranked team in the league to appear underrated, or to be underplaying their abilities (i.e. leaving a lot of points on the field), as there is nowhere to go but up. Detroit though has almost no hint of either, entrenching them in the gutter of the rankings, and really describes how poorly this team has played over the course of the season. This is not to say that Detroit will not bring everything to the table, it is more of a testament as to how bad of a spot this for them. Carolina comes off of a hard fought victory at Oakland, which makes it hard to believe Carolina will be caught looking past this game. Hampering Detroit even more is that it will have been exactly 3 weeks since Carolina last played in front of their home crowd. The fans would be chomping at the bit to cheer for their division leading team even if they were playing a Division 1-AA college team. The only hope for Detroit to keep this game close is a barrage of turnovers by Carolina, which is highly unlikely with the offense coming off of its worst turnover performance of the year. Look for the home defense to deliver a rude and punishing greeting to the visiting team, handing Delhomme and company excellent field position to build a large early lead upon, from where they will have little problems cruising to a victory.

ITN rankings:

- Carolina #5 - That wasn't the most inspiring road trip to Oakland, but it was a win nonetheless. Still, the Panthers have lost the turnover battle in 3 of their 4 road trips, and the only one they didn't lose was a tie. With upcoming road trips to ATL, GB, NYG, and NO, Carolina will need to turn that around. Stat: the defense is allowing opponents TD's on only 38% of their trips to the red zone (3rd).

- Detroit #32 - Let's try to look at things with a more positive light. Detroit is now 7-1 at playing so poorly that the opponent who beats them loses their next game. The only team able to avoid that fate was Houston when they got to host Cincinnati the week after pummeling the Lions. Stat: the offense has converted 69% (11 of 16) of their red zone trips into TDs (3rd).