All week we were reminded that it would be the first time in 34 games that the Carolina Panthers were favored to win. Such fanfare over the odds almost made it certain that this game against the Dallas Cowboys would be anything but an easy W. The game had very low energy thoughout the first half as the Panthers struggled to maintain the offensive efficiency that had been on display for the last month or so. Carolina’s most promising drive – 13 plays down to the Dallas 18-yard line – ended when quarterback Bryce Young fumbled and the ball was recovered by Marshawn Kneeland at the 14. The Cowboys couldn’t do much with it and went 3-and-out before punting back to the Panthers.
There was a heavy dose of CeeDee Lamb to open the second quarter, with the receiver hauling in passes of 20 and 28 yards before capping the drive with a 14-yard touchdown reception to put Dallas on the board first. Young has his second turnover of the day on the next drive when his pass intended for Adam Thielen was deflected, then intercepted by Eric Kendricks who returned the ball to the Carolina 48. A 52-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey pushed the Cowboys lead to 10 with 4:05 to play in the first half. Carolina still struggled to move the ball and the defense took a hit with a very questionable unnecessary roughness flag on safety Xavier Woods which moved the Dallas offense into Carolina territory. The Cowboys drove down the the 14 yard line before quarterback Cooper Rush fumbled and the ball was recovered by Carolina’s DJ Johnson. With only 42 seconds on the clock before the intermission, Young connected with rookie receiver Jalen Coker for an 83-yard touchdown bomb to bring the Panthers within 3 points at halftime.
Coming out of the break, the Panthers had the ball but disaster struck at the first snap when Young was sacked and stripped by Osa Odighizuwa. Chauncey Golston recovered for the Cowboys at the 29. The Panthers defense nearly got it back on a fumble recovery, but the replay official reversed the call and ruled that Rico Dowdle was down by contact before the ball came out. Two plays later, Rush found Jalen Tolbert in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown to put Dallas up 17-7. The Panthers offense continued to sputter, going 3-and-out on the next possession while Dallas tacked on yet another touchdown – this time by Charlotte-native Jalen Brooks. Rush found Brooks in the end zone for the first touchdown of his career. The score put the Cowboys up 24-7 with 6:55 to play in the third quarter.
Young was sacked twice on the next drive and the Cowboys added yet another field goal to go up 27-7 early in the final period. Carolina took advantage of two defensive pass interference calls to get all the way to the 1-yard line before a false start penalty – the fifth of the day – moved the ball back 5 yards. Young was able to scamper in from 6 yards out but the Panthers were still down two scores with 9:13 to play. Johnny Hekker’s 50 yard kickoff was returned 24 yards, then another 15 yards was tacked on due to Carolina’s Sam Franklin’s unnecessary roughness penalty. This put Dallas in field goal territory and they added another 3 points on the leg of Aubrey to go up 30-14.
The day got no easier for Carolina with Young throwing his second interception of the day with 4:21 left in the game and 30-14 would be the final score. Everything that had made the Panthers competitive in the last month went by the wayside as they were unable to establish the run game, unable to stop the run, made costly self-inflicted penalties and mistakes, and faltered in protection. The Cowboys, in a down year and missing their franchise quarterback, were able to control the game from start to finish – even when the Panthers were within as little as 3 points. In addition to his four turnovers, Young was sacked six times while the Dallas offense was able to rack up 410 total net yards.
It’s back to the drawing board for head coach Dave Canales and the Panthers as they prepare for their last home game of the season next week against the Arizona Cardinals.
