Get Ready: The Three Crucial Factors for the Cowboys’ Clash with the Panthers
FRISCO, Texas – Imagine facing the same non-divisional opponent on the road for three straight years—it's an unusual scenario in the NFL. Yet, that's exactly what the Dallas Cowboys are set to do this Sunday as they travel back to Carolina to take on the Panthers for their second consecutive away game following a solid 37-22 victory over the New York Jets last Sunday.
Here's where it gets interesting: History has been quite favorable for Dallas when playing in Charlotte. They secured back-to-back wins there in 2023 and 2024, with convincing scorelines of 33-10 and 30-14, respectively. So, what must the Cowboys do to make it a trio of straight wins against Carolina? Let’s break down the three keys they need to focus on in this week’s "Here We Goooo":
Rekindling the Dak-Ferguson Connection
Dak Prescott and Jake Ferguson’s chemistry has been one of the most talked-about parts of Dallas’s offense, especially since Ferguson has emerged as a leading tight end. In the first five games of this season, Ferguson has led the entire NFL tight end group with an impressive 41 receptions—12 more than his nearest competitor.
But here’s the catch: Despite these numbers, Dak and Ferguson haven’t quite found their groove on one of their most effective plays—the seam route that helped Ferguson earn a Pro Bowl nod in 2023. From passes that flew just out of reach to Ferguson taking hard hits on some throws, this critical element of the offense has been somewhat missing.
The good news? Carolina presents a prime opportunity to restore this connection. The Panthers have been the most vulnerable team in the league against tight ends this season, giving up 401 yards and three touchdowns to the position so far. With the probable absence of key wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and KaVontae Turpin again on Sunday, Ferguson's targets are unlikely to decrease—in fact, they might increase as Dallas leans on his skill to stretch the field.
Against the Jets last week, the Cowboys used their 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end) formation for only 45.8% of their snaps—the lowest this season—while 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) made up 20.3%. Since Ferguson is usually the lead tight end on the field, these formations typically benefit him. Expect a similar approach in Carolina.
Looking back at their last two matchups, Ferguson caught five passes for 55 yards against the Panthers—a modest output. But consider that receivers like Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Michael Gallup were in the mix, which spread the ball around. This week, with a slimmer group of receivers, Ferguson has a real chance to shine and potentially post one of his biggest games this year.
Seizing the Pass Rush Opportunity
The Cowboys’ pass rush is another crucial element to watch. After accumulating five sacks in the first four games of the season, Dallas matched that total against the Jets last week. Now, they face a Panthers offensive line that has proven to be a tough challenge but showed some clear weaknesses to Dallas in recent seasons.
In 2023 and 2024 combined, Dallas' defense managed 13 sacks on Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. While the Cowboys now have a somewhat different pass-rushing lineup without Micah Parsons, they should still find good opportunities due to Carolina's offensive line struggles, especially on the edges.
Notably, left tackle Ikem Ekwonu and right tackle Taylor Moton have allowed a combined 43 quarterback pressures and three sacks on Young so far this season, ranking among the league’s worst. Moton’s absence due to an elbow injury (he missed the last two practices) could expose Carolina even more. His backup, Yosh Nijman, has allowed eight pressures on just 40 pass-blocking snaps, which is a 20% pressure rate—definitely a weak link.
Add to that the Panthers’ offensive line ranking sixth in total pressures allowed (89) and eighth in quickness to pressure (2.86 seconds), and this looks like a prime chance for Dallas to generate consistent pass rush. Despite some inconsistency on defense early this season, the Cowboys saw multiple players get involved in pressuring the quarterback last week, with James Houston leading the charge at 3.5 sacks.
Bryce Young's numbers under pressure this year—49.1% completions, 315 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions—are actually improved over his previous seasons but still leave some room for Dallas to force mistakes. Could Dallas capitalize and disrupt Carolina's rhythm? This defensive facet will be a storyline to watch closely.
Buckling Up Against the Panthers' Ground Game
Here’s the part most people overlook: controlling the rush game can make or break this matchup. Rico Dowdle, a former Cowboys running back who now leads the Panthers’ backfield, issued a warning earlier this week that Dallas is going to have to “buckle up” to contain him.
Dowdle earned that confidence after rushing for a career-high 206 yards last week against Miami, and with Chuba Hubbard sidelined due to a calf injury, Dowdle is likely to maintain his lead role.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer humorously acknowledged they'll have their "seat belts buckled" for the challenge, and rightly so given recent defensive struggles. Through the first three games, Dallas allowed 329 rushing yards and four touchdowns— respectable if unspectacular. However, in the last two games alone, their run defense gave up 308 yards and two touchdowns, ranking third-worst in the NFL during that span.
What makes this matchup even more complex is Dowdle’s familiarity with the Cowboys’ defense. Having spent four seasons in Dallas, he understands their tendencies and potential weaknesses; likewise, many Cowboys players and coaches know his style and habits.
This shared knowledge sets the stage for a strategic battle in the trenches. Dallas will need to tighten up quickly in run defense and stay disciplined to keep Dowdle's revenge game in check.
So, here’s a question to you—can the Cowboys extend their road dominance against the Panthers to three straight years? Or will Carolina’s offense, particularly Dowdle's ground attack, expose vulnerabilities Dallas has struggled to fix? Let us know what you think. Are these keys enough for Dallas to secure another victory, or is there more to the story that fans and analysts are missing? Your thoughts might just spark the debate this week.
