CHARLOTTE (AP) - The Detroit Lions saw their three-game winning streak snap among bitterly cold temperatures in Carolina on Saturday -- and possibly iced out of playoff contention -- after they fell to the Panthers, 34-13.
The loss caused the Lions to fall to 7-8 after Week 16.
The Carolina Panthers racked up a franchise record 320 yards on the ground with big play after big play to beat the Lions at Bank of America Stadium.
The Panthers improved to 6-9 and can would win the NFC South title with victories in their final two games. Chubba Hubbard added 125 yards rushing for Carolina. Sam Darnold completed 15 of 22 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score to improve to 3-1 as Carolina's starting QB.
Jared Goff threw three touchdown passes for Detroit, which had won six of its previous seven games to move into playoff contention.
But the Lions failed to answer in North Carolina with any of the success they managed in their winning games and Saturday's loss plummeted the Lions playoff chances after weeks of steady momentum.
Prior to Saturday's game, Detroit had built up enough contention to eyeball a NFC wild-card berth, but the team backpedaling to under .500 hurts. A lot.
With combined with the losses by the Seahawks and Giants, the chances of the Lions making the NFL Playoffs stand at 23%.
Depending on if the Commanders lose to the San Francisco 49ers later on Saturday and if the Green Bay Packers lose to the Miami Dolphins, the Lions could see their playoff chances gain a slight increase to 27%.
If the Commanders manage to win, the Detroit would see playoff hopes dwindle to a dismal 14%.
The Lions will return to Ford Field to take on Chicago next Sunday.