Panthers, Cowboys in clash to determine who is for real
THE PANTHERS’ matchup against the Cowboys on Sunday in Arlington, Texas, represents a “show-me’’ game for both teams.
Are the Panthers true contenders or is their 3-0 record a product of their relatively easy early schedule? Is quarterback Sam Darnold really a different player in his change of scenery or is his improvement more about the talent around him?
For the Cowboys (2-1), was their home rout of the Eagles on Monday representative of who they are? Are the Cowboys the cream of an uneven crop in the NFC East?
This game will at least begin to provide answers for both teams.
Darnold, after three disappointing years with the Jets, has been a revelation this season, completing 68 percent of his passes for 888 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He, too, has rushed for three TDs, which leads the NFL. That’s more than he had in any of his three seasons with the Jets and as many as Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott and Titans running back Derrick Henry, among others.
Darnold and the Panthers’ offense will be challenged this week with star running back Christian McCaffrey out with a hamstring strain.
McCaffrey will be replaced by rookie Chuba Hubbard, who’s expected to start and share time with Royce Freeman. Hubbard ran for 52 yards on 11 carries after McCaffrey’s injury late in the first quarter last week in Houston.
The Panthers are ranked 10th in the NFL in offense (eighth in passing and 14th in rushing). They are ranked No. 1 in the league in both passing and rushing defense and they’re No. 2 in scoring defense.
The Dallas offense is ranked No. 5 overall (fourth in rushing and 10th in passing) and is sixth in scoring. The Cowboys’ defense is ranked 26th (31st against the pass and sixth against the run).
As much as Darnold is the player to watch for the Panthers, Elliott is that player for the Cowboys. He’s coming off his best game of the season (95 yards and two TDs).
That game represented a seeming change in offensive philosophy for the Cowboys, who had 391 yards passing and 60 rushing in a loss to Tampa Bay in the opener. Since then, in wins over the Eagles and Chargers, the
Cowboys have averaged 221 yards passing and 179 rushing. The Panthers’ defense has a league-leading 14 sacks — led by linebacker Haason Reddick, who has 4.5. The Panthers have produced at least four sacks in each of their three games. Carolina defensive end Brian Burns has six sacks in his past five games. This will be a challenge for Dallas right tackle Terence Steele, who’s starting for the suspended La’el Collins.
One thing for the Cowboys to guard against is a fast start by the Panthers, who have outscored opponents 40-6 in the first half and outgained them 734 to 255 in yards.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has had a terrific season to date, completing an NFL-best 77.5 percent of his passes with six TDs and two INTs in his return from the ankle injury that sidelined him after Week 5 last year.
Prescott, last Monday, played in his first game at AT&T Stadium since suffering a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle in October 2020, and he completed 21 of 26 passes for 238 yards and three TDs.
“That was fun,” Prescott told reporters after the game. “Just thankful for everything that I’ve been through, all of the hard work that made me account for just to be back out here doing what I love.
“I think that shows just the brotherhood that we’re creating and the culture we’re creating within this team. That’s just one and that’s a step and that was a big step and a building block of where we’re going and what we’re trying to accomplish.”
On defense, the Cowboys lead the NFL with eight takeaways and are tied for first with the Saints with at plus-five turnover differential.
Of note: The Cowboys have lost eight of their past nine games the week after playing on Monday night.
Also of note: The Panthers are seeking their first 4-0 start since the 2015 season, when they started 14-0 and lost to the Broncos in the Super Bowl.