The Carolina Panthers entered Week Six 2-3 and hoping to get to .500 for the first time since 2021. To do so, they would have to go through the league’s top ranked offense in the Dallas Cowboys. It wouldn’t be easy, even without top receiver Ceedee Lamb. In his absence, George Pickens proved to be a nearly unstoppable man on a mission. As the favorite third-down target of quarterback Dak Prescott, Pickens did whatever he wanted; to the tune of nine catches for 168 yards and one touchdown. Carolina’s defense stifled the run game, holding the Cowboys to a modest 31 yards on the ground.
On the other side of the field, former Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle had something to say. After warning his former team to buckle up after his 206 yard rushing performance last week, Dowdle carried the pigskin 30 times for 183 yards, added another 53 yards receiving, and a receiving touchdown. Rookie first rounder Tetairoa McMillan found the end zone twice for his first career touchdowns – on his grandfather’s birthday, nonetheless. It was a shootout, with the game coming down to clock management and play calling.
Tied at 27, Carolina’s defense got a stop when they needed it the most. They forced the three-and-out, giving the offense the ball back with 6:07 to play. Behind a good mixture of runs and passes, it came down to a 4th & 4 with 2:31 remaining in the game. The Panthers went empty set, with quarterback Bryce Young connecting with veteran receiver Hunter Renfrow on a short left pass for 7 yards for a fresh set of downs. Two first downs, courtesy of carries by Dowdle and rookie Trevor Etienne set the stage for the Panthers to run the clock down as Dallas ran out of time outs. A walk-off 33 yard field goal by rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald sealed the 30-27 win for Carolina as they moved to 3-3 on the season. Young finished with 199 yards on 17-of-25 passing, three touchdowns, and one interception as Carolina outgained the number one offense in the NFL by 118 yards. Prescott finished with 261 yards and three touchdowns.Â
Carolina improves to 3-0 at home and will hit the road next week to take on the New York Jets, who are looking for their first win of the season.
