The Dallas Cowboys lost to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. It was very unfortunate.
It was a game very similar to what we have seen all season from Dallas. The offense contended over and over, almost on every possession, but the defense got worked in just about every single way.
This type of football (obviously) isn’t sustainable for the Cowboys and their 2-3-1 (gross) record is pretty representative of that.
Up next for this team is a home date against a Washington Commanders group that will be anxious to put Dallas in a serious hole in the first half of the season. It is hard to wonder how that will not wind up happening.
The Cowboys were favorites in this game, the second time this season that they were favored on the road.
While the Carolina loss was not embarrassing as the other (the Bears one), that we are even having to compare the two is frustrating.
Unbelievable.
First Quarter
The Panthers won the toss and deferred which put the Cowboys offense on the field first.
It was a rather quick possession as Dallas went three and out. Certainly not an ideal start.
Rico Dowdle’s first run went for 9 yards which was notable given his “buckle up” comment ahead of the game and his history with the Cowboys. His second run was also sizable which made things feel tenuous.
Dowdle had 3 carries for 29 yards and a reception for 13 more on Carolina’s opening possession. Thankfully the Cowboys were able to make a stand as it neared the goal line and forced the Panthers to settle for a field goal.
SCORE: COWBOYS 0, PANTHERS 3 (Ryan Fitzgerald 31-yard field goal)
The Cowboys were able to find some success on offense this time around and both George Pickens and Ryan Flournoy were reasons why. Things ultimately stalled out and Dallas settled for a field goal, but a big reason they were down there was this acrobatic moment from Pickens.
SCORE: COWBOYS 3, PANTHERS 3 (Brandon Aubrey 23-yard field goal)
The Panthers appeared to be finding offensive success on their next offensive possession. It was then that disaster struck for them.
A tipped pass wound up in the hands of Donovan Wilson for the game’s first turnover.
Dallas was already in striking distance and got down near the goal line for a 4th and 1 where they let things reach the end of the quarter to have time to think on it.
Second Quarter
As noted the Cowboys went to the break with a chance to think about what they wanted to do on 4th and 1.
They wanted to get the ball to Hunter Luepke and did for a touchdown!
SCORE: COWBOYS 10, PANTHERS 3 (Dak Prescott to Hunter Luepke touchdown)
Carolina began their next drive on their own 19-yard line, but that did not seem to bother them.
Dowdle continued to thrive and gashed the Cowboys on just about every carry. He did not wind up scoring for the Panthers, but Tetairoa McMillan did. It was his first career touchdown. Of course it came against Dallas.
SCORE: COWBOYS 10, PANTHERS 10 (Bryce Young to Tetairoa McMillan touchdown)
The challenge was on for the Cowboys to answer and it appeared to be a challenge that they took seriously.
Ryan Flournoy continued to be featured and George Pickens kept making clutch catches. Notably, Dallas went for it on 4th and 4 well within field goal range. Greg Olsen even expressed some doubt in being that aggressive on the broadcast. It was all for not though as Prescott found Pickens despite the latter getting held on the play.
Shortly after a conversion that empowered the team overall Dak found Jake Ferguson in the endzone for the touchdown!
SCORE: COWBOYS 17, PANTHERS 10 (Dak Prescott to Jake Ferguson touchdown)
The Panthers offense began to move once more and in a relatively unchallenged way. It was, as it has been all season for this side of the ball, very frustrating to watch.
There was a wild sequence just before the end of the half. After catching a pass, Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette tossed a lateral to Rico Dowdle for what appeared to be no reason. Carolina had two timeouts at the moment in question to be clear.
Officials had to get matters squared away and it took a little while. Ultimately the Panthers were facing third and long and got in range for a field goal they pulled off.
SCORE: COWBOYS 17, PANTHERS 13 (Ryan Fitzgerald 55-yard field goal)
The Cowboys took a knee to send things to halftime right after as there were only a few seconds left.
Third Quarter
The Panthers made very quick work of their first possession to start the half.
It took Carolina four plays to travel 80 yards (for real). 36 of them came on the fourth play as Bryce Young found Rico Dowdle for the touchdown.
SCORE: COWBOYS 17, PANTHERS 20 (Bryce Young to Rico Dowdle touchdown)
Pressure was officially on the Cowboys at this point as they were trailing for the first time in a while. Unfortunately the ground game was still not helping much and Dallas was held without points on a possession for the first time since their opening one.
Thankfully the Cowboys defense was able to get a stop as things began to pick up in stress. Marist Liufau deserves some huge praise as it was his sack that derailed the Panthers’ drive and ultimately led to them punting.
The Cowboys offense had to go to work and that is exactly what they did. George Pickens continued to come alive and finally broke through for the score.
SCORE: COWBOYS 24, PANTHERS 20 (Dak Prescott to George Pickens touchdown)
It was a moment of serious momentum arriving for the Cowboys as things were feeling down to that point as documented. Taking the lead back seemed to be promising for the remainder of the game.
The third quarter ended with Carolina having the ball.
Fourth Quarter
The Panthers were threatening and kept doing so as the final period began.
Unfortunately they made good on that threat. Bryce Young found Tet McMillan for the rookie’s second-ever touchdown. The Cowboys will help you out if you are struggling offensively.
Dallas responded well thanks to a huge 45-yard connection between Dak Prescott and George Pickens. It put the team in striking distance, but ultimately they had to settle for another field goal which tied the game up.
SCORE: COWBOYS 27, PANTHERS 27 (Brandon Aubrey 28-yard field goal)
Amazingly, the Cowboys were able to survive and force the Panthers to punt. The problem was that the offense immediately went three and out when they got the ball which put the ball back in Carolina’s hands.
The Panthers drove and drove and drove… and drove. They went for it on a fourth and short and were able to convert as the two-minute warning went off.
Carolina was able to set up themselves up for a game-winning field goal attempt in the final seconds from easy range. They got it.
Panthers won 30-27. Unreal.
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