3 bold predictions for the Detroit Lions vs. the Carolina Panthers in Week 16

1. Jameson Williams gets at least 75 receiving yards

If a Lions’ perimeter receiver is going to be sacrificed at the altar of Panthers’ No. 1 corner Jaycee Horn, it seems like it will be D.J. Chark or Josh Reynolds. Williams would have had a touchdown last week if Jared Goff hadn’t misfired when he beat Jets’ cornerback D.J. Reed.

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson talked about the process of getting the rookie receiver more involved this week.

"Yeah, it’s a weekly process, and I think it is coming along,” Johnson said during a press conference on Wednesday. “We try to push Jamo a little bit more every week in terms of the routes we’re asking him to run, not just for the game, but also for his development and for Jared’s chemistry with him. We’re trying to see what he’s capable of, and what he’s comfortable with at this point coming off that injury. So, I think we’ll continue to see a growing connection between those two. It’s just time on task.”"

Goff also talked about his building connection with Williams this week, starting with the missed play against the Jets, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

"I wish I would’ve thrown it a little bit earlier,” Goff said. “I had to move in the pocket a little bit. That’s one missed opportunity I felt like throughout the game I was thinking about. But yeah, him and I are moving along. It’s much better than it was two weeks ago, with just understanding his speed and what he’s good at and what he likes. So yeah, we’re moving right along, and it’ll only get better from here.”"

Among Lions’ wide receivers, Amon-Ra St. Brown will get his production on Saturday. But someone else stepping up would be nice if Detroit is going to do all it could offensively. Williams’ route tree is evolving and he’s getting more comfortable….he’ll be a mismatch for the Panthers’ secondary, and Goff should connect with him a few times.