What happened: Detroit fell to Carolina on Sunday Night Football after conceding a string of explosive gains and critical third-down conversions. Carolina aligned Tetairoa McMillan in the slot to draw linebacker Jack Campbell into man coverage. Carolina also leaned on run-pass option looks behind Bryce Young's quick release to stress the second level.

Why it matters: Second-year coordinator Kelvin Sheppard faces growing scrutiny with Dan Campbell pressed for answers. Repeated coverage mismatches and unadjusted RPO answers point to scheme rather than isolated execution. The defeat stalls momentum from Detroit's Week 3 rebound.

What to watch: Watch whether Detroit adjusts second-level coverage and RPO fits before its next outing.