The Panthers got to Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford for season highs in both sacks (five) and QB hits (11). The Panthers had just 11 sacks in their first 10 games.

That wasn’t the only trend they turned on its head.

They entered the week last in the league in defensive third-down percentage and held the Lions to 3-of-14 conversions. They had forced opponents to punt just twice in the last four games combined, but the Lions had to punt six times Sunday. The Panthers had allowed at least 20 points during each game of the five-game losing streak but allowed none Sunday for their first shutout since Dec. 14, 2015 against the Falcons.

Of course, any praise of this defense should be at least a little conditional.

Stafford was playing with an injured thumb and without three of his top offensive