Game Preview: DAL at CAR

The MATCHUP

DALLAS COWBOYS (6-3) at CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-8)

Game time: Sunday, 12 p.m. CST 

TV/radio: FOX 4 / Compass Media, Sirius XM-NFL, 105.3 The Fan, KMVK 107.5 La Grande (Spanish) 

Broadcast teams: National TV – Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen, Erin Andrews (sidelines), Tom Rinaldi (sidelines); National Radio (Compass) – Chris Carrino, Danny White; Local Radio (English) – Brad Sham, Babe Laufenberg, Kristi Scales (sidelines); Local Radio (Spanish) – Victor Villalba, Luis Perez

Head Referee: Clay Martin

Officiating Crew: James Carter, Jerod Phillips, Greg Bradley, Alonzo Ramsey, Dave Hawkshaw, Greg Wilson, Brian Matoren, Bryant Thompson    

Last 5 Meetings:

10/03/2021 – Cowboys 36, Panthers 28

09/09/2018 – Panthers 16, Cowboys 8

11/26/2015 – Panthers 33, Cowboys 14

10/21/2012 – Cowboys 19, Panthers 14

09/28/2009 – Cowboys 21, Panthers 7

All Time Head-to-Head: Cowboys lead 10-5-0

WHAT’s at STAKE

The Cowboys are in midst of the four-game stretch in their schedule – Giants, Panthers, Commanders and Seahawks, that are filled with must win games. This one on Sunday at Carolina is the second, after their win last week against the Giants. The Cowboys have already lost to a bad team (Arizona) this season, that was their one mulligan for the season. If they can’t get out of Charlotte with a victory than there will be some serious questions about this team’s ability to win on the road, where they have already lost three time this season. A win is what should happen, so there will be no need to get excited with a victory on Sunday.

WHEN the COWBOYS HAVE the BALL

The Cowboys offense, which is starting to fire on all cylinders and currently ranks fourth in the NFL in yards per game with 379.1, should have an opportunity at another 40-point game, something that have done three times already this season in wins over the Giants twice and the Rams. If the Cowboys offensive line can hold back a Panthers defense that ranks near the middle of the NFL, then it could be another big day for wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who has three straight games of at least 11 catches and 150 yards. If the Panthers double Lamb, they will have Michael Gallup, Jalen Tolbert and an emerging Brandin Cooks to deal with. The Panthers defense in true pass sets – pass plays that don’t include screens, play actions or rollouts, have 66 pressures – 14 sacks, 14 quarterback hits, 38 quarterback hurries, with six passes knocked down, which should bode well for quarterback Dak Prescott. In the run game, the Cowboys have another chance to get Tony Pollard a 100-yard rushing afternoon. Pollard, who hasn’t had more than 55 yards rushing in any game since he went for 122 yards on 23 carries against Arizona, and Rico Dowdle will be up against the 26th ranked run defense in the NFL, which is giving up 131.9 yards per game.

WHEN the PANTHERS HAVE the BALL

The Carolina offense runs through rookie quarterback Bryce Young, and so far this season it hasn’t run very well. Young has accounted for 1,695 yards in eight games as the starter, which is 1,560 through the air and 135 on the ground. He has been sacked 29 times, which is fifth most in the NFL. The Panthers offensive line is a mess, allowing Young to be sacked 3.6 times per game, which is the third worst in the NFL, better than only the Giants’ Daniel Jones (5.0 per game) and the Commanders’ Sam Howell (4.7 per game). That should have the Cowboys pass rush, which averages 2.88 sacks per game, wide-eyed and ready to go on Sunday. Once outside the pocket Young, who only averages 16.8 yards rushing per game, is looking to throw the ball to a group of receivers led by Adam Thielen (68-652-4), D.J. Chark Jr. (17-229-3), Jonathan Mingo (23-220-0) and tight end Hayden Hurst (18-184-1). On the ground, the Panthers rely on running backs Chuba Hubbard (94-351-1) and Miles Sanders (71-224-1), or Young escaping the pocket.

KEY COWBOYS to WATCH:

LB Rashaan Evans – On the street just four weeks ago, Rashaan Evans should see significant snaps at weakside linebacker for the Cowboys on Sunday at Carolina. Evans, a former 2018 first round pick of the Titans, was signed during the week after Leighton Vander Esch injured his neck against the 49ers. In his first week on the roster, he played 15 snaps on special teams against the Eagles. He followed that up with a solo tackle in seven snaps at linebacker and 13 more on special teams in the win over the Rams. Last week against the Giants, he played 28 snaps at linebacker, where he assisted on two tackles, and then another 11 snaps on special teams. His quick absorption of the Dan Quinn defense has allowed the Cowboys to have more size at outside linebacker, where they were lacking with Markquese Bell, and move Damone Clark to the middle, in place of LVE.

DE Sam Williams – After a slow start to his sophomore season, Sam Williams is starting to come on over the last few games for the Cowboys defense. Williams has played 170 snaps this season at defensive end, where he has contributed three sacks – one each against the Patriots, Eagles and Giants, and is third on the team this season behind only Micah Parsons (7.5) and Dorance Armstrong (4.5). He has 14 quarterback pressures, 11 quarterback hurries, 10 tackles and he has disrupted the offensive play seven other times. His speed will put pressure on Carolina tackles Taylor Moton, the NFL’s worst statistically, and Ikem Ekwonu. Williams is also a special teams contributor on all five phases – kickoff, kick return, punt, punt return and extra point, where he has played 145 snaps this season.

WR Jalen Tolbert – The Cowboys have been looking for one of their receivers to step forward and compliment the work CeeDee Lamb is doing every Sunday. While veteran Brandin Cooks brook out with a huge game last week against the Giants, Jalen Tolbert could be one of their young players to make a huge leap forward in his second season. Tolbert, who couldn’t find his way onto the active roster for games last season, has played in all nine games for Dallas this season. Tolbert, who has 12 catches on 20 targets with zero drops for 122 yards this season, caught his first NFL touchdown against the Eagles. This season he has 258 snaps on offense, and another 149 snaps on special teams.

KEY PANTHERS to WATCH:

LT Ikem Ekwonu – The Panthers first round pick in 2022, Ikem Ekwonu has the task of protecting the blindside of rookie quarterback Bryce Young. It has been a tough season for the big guy. While playing all 625 snaps in 2023 for the Carolina offense, Ekwonu has given up five sacks – which is tied for third most in the NFL, four quarterback hits and has been flagged nine times – six false starts, two for ineligible player downfield and one for holding. Among tackles, he has the third most penalties, behind only Kansas City’s Jawaan Taylor and Arizona’s D.J. Humphries. Ekwonu is coming off his best game of the season, playing all 65 snaps – including 47 in the pass game. He allowed no sacks, no quarterback hits, 1 quarterback hurry, while being flagged one time for a false start. It was the cleanest game of his career.

S Vonn Bell – Now in his eighth season, safety Vonn Bell is, along with linebacker Deion Jones, the elder statesman on a youthful Carolina defense. He is third on the defense in tackles with 37 in just six games, behind linebacker Frankie Luvu (73) and defensive tackle Derrick Brown (49). Bell, signed to a three-year deal in the offseason after three seasons in Cincinnati, is averaging just under 64 snaps a game when he’s been healthy. In his 383 snaps, he has played in the box – the area between the offensive tackles and within five yards of the line of scrimmage – on 133 snaps, while taking another 11 snaps on the defensive line. He also has 51 snaps in the slot corner. He did miss three games, including the Panthers only win – 15-13 over Houston, but is tied for the team lead with one interception, and has two passes knocked down.

CB Troy Hill – With C.J. Henderson now ruled out for the game on Sunday, Troy Hill moves into the starting lineup at one of the wide corner spots. Hill has plenty of experience, playing over eight seasons with the Browns, Rams and Bengals, but is in his first season with Carolina. He has played 252 snaps on defense this season, with 158 coming in the slot corner and another 57 at a wide corner spot. He has 21 tackles, one tackle for loss, one pass knocked down and one interception, that he returned 61 yards for a touchdown in the Panthers 42-21 loss to Miami in Week 6. Hill has allowed 17 catches on 27 targets for 135 yards, including 65 after the catch, this season. He has also been called for three penalties – two unnecessary roughness and one illegal contact.

The BOTTOM LINE

The Cowboys are facing a team that is in a battle for the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2024 draft. The Panthers have a rookie quarterback that is running for his life and a defense that is middle of the road at best. The Cowboys offense is crushing inferior opponents and Sunday should be more of the same. If the Cowboys defense can find their stride early, expect this one to be decided by halftime and the Cowboys giving their best players rest in the fourth quarter of another blowout.

Prediction: Cowboys 45, Panthers 16