Can the Cowboys bounce back after a brutal Monday Night Football loss to the Bengals?
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Dallas Cowboys, reeling from a heartbreaking home loss to the Bengals, now hit the road to face the 3-10 Carolina Panthers. With late-game mistakes and mounting injuries adding to an already tough season, Dallas is searching for anything positive to salvage from this lost season.
Here are 5 Things to Watch when the Cowboys face the Panthers on Sunday at Noon:
1. Shocking odds: Panthers favored
Here’s a stat Cowboys fans don’t want to see: the Panthers are three-point favorites against Dallas. It’s the first time in two years — a span of 33 games — that Carolina has been favored in a matchup.
Vegas apparently has little faith in the Cowboys. Meanwhile, the Panthers have played a series of close games lately, with quarterback Bryce Young showing steady improvement. Dallas, meanwhile, enters the game physically battered and emotionally wrung out.
2. Cowboys’ state of mind
Dallas’ playoff hopes aren’t officially dead, but we all know where this season is headed, and it’s not the playoffs. The loss to Cincinnati all but sealed their fate, leaving the Cowboys in a tough mental space as they head to Carolina.
Adding to the heartbreak is the loss of emerging star linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who tore multiple ligaments in his knee and figures to also miss all of next season. It’s another devastating blow in a year full of setbacks.
The challenge for Dallas is twofold: overcoming the emotional hangover of a gut-wrenching loss and staying focused against a struggling Panthers team. I’ll be watching to see if the Cowboys rise to the occasion or crumble under the weight of the emotional baggage they’ll carry with them to Carolina.
3. Rico Dowdle’s ground game surge
Not everything is doom and gloom for Dallas. Running back Rico Dowdle has been a bright spot, rushing for over 100 yards in back-to-back games. His 243 rushing yards over the last two weeks lead the NFL, and his 485 yards in the past six weeks trail only the Eagles Saquon Barkley in that span.
The question now is whether Mike McCarthy will stay committed to the run game against a Panthers defense that ranks dead last against the rush. It won’t be flashy, but it could be the most promising chance at victory.
4. CeeDee Lamb: Steady and unstoppable
CeeDee Lamb continues to shine, even while battling a nagging shoulder injury. Lamb hauled in six catches for 93 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals, and he might have had even more if Cooper Rush had spotted him wide open on the Cowboys’ final offensive play.
Lamb’s consistency has been remarkable. He’s already surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards this season, becoming just the fifth receiver in NFL history to start his career with five straight 1,000-yard seasons.
Despite the struggles around him, Lamb remains one of the league’s most reliable playmakers. He’ll look to add to his impressive season against a Carolina secondary which can be had.
5. Late-game execution: Crunch time test
If recent trends hold, this game is likely to be close. The Panthers’ last five games have been decided by an average of just 3.2 points. That means the Cowboys’ ability to execute in crunch time could be the difference.
Dallas had opportunities against the Bengals last week in the fourth quarter, but poor execution — including a costly special teams blunder — sealed their fate. Quarterback Cooper Rush will likely find himself in another tight situation late in this game. The Cowboys’ ability to finish strong figures to determine whether they leave Carolina with a win.