Carolina Panthers (3-11) – Dallas Cowboys (6-8): 14-30
On paper, this Panthers-Cowboys is nothing attractive. On the one hand, the Panthers are already eliminated from the playoff race. On the other hand, the Cowboys must deal without their starting quarterback Dak Prescott, who is out for the rest of the season. But the Panthers' dynamic since Bryce Young's return to the starting team makes this match interesting (two victories and narrow defeats against the Chiefs, the Buccaneers and the Eagles). Carolina was even the favorite for this match among the bookmakers, a first in the last thirty-four meetings. What suggests a victory over Dallas?
No offense to the bettors, Carolina did not see the light of day in its confrontation with Dallas. Bryce Young, who had shown signs of progress in recent matches, fell back into his old ways (19/28 for 219 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions). The Cowboys, undoubtedly touched in their pride, were merciless like quarterback Cooper Rush who undoubtedly produced one of the best performances of his career (18/29 for 214 yards and 3 touchdowns). On the other side of the ball, the Dallas defense did not give the opposing attack the slightest respite, like the insatiable Micah Parsons (2 sacks) who terrorized Bryce Young.
With this victory, the Cowboys remain mathematically in the race for the playoffs by winning but if their chances are tiny. Carolina sees her beautiful dynamic come to an end.
Dallas takes the advantage but cannot drive the point home
The meeting is having difficulty getting carried away. At the end of the first quarter, the Panthers enter the Cowboys redzone. But Bryce Young commits a very costly fumble that is covered. From that moment on, things accelerated. On the next drive, Cooper Rush found his star receiver CeeDee Lamb for the first touchdown of the game (7-0).
Then, the soufflé falls. Dallas muzzles Carolina by intercepting Bryce Young then adds three additional points (10-0). It was at the end of the first half that the match got carried away. While the Cowboys find themselves in a position to definitely widen the gap, Cooper Rush (QB) commits a fumble immediately covered by the defense. The Panthers are making the Cowboys pay doubly for this mistake. Listless for most of the first half, Bryce Young found his receiver Jalen Coker on an 83-yard pass and reduced the gap to just three points at the break. (10-7)
Carolina cracks
If the dynamic seemed to reverse at the end of the first half, the first drive of the second half dealt a blow to the Panthers' intentions. Bryce Young commits a second fumble Placed in optimal conditions, the Cowboys capitalize by scoring a touchdown through receiver Jalen Tolbert (17-7). The Panthers' listless offense quickly gives the ball back to the Cowboys. Cooper Rush continues his offensive festival by throwing his third touchdown pass of the match (24-7).
The step is too high for Carolina. Brandon Aubrey's right paw adds six additional points while Bryce Young scores a touchdown in the anecdotal race nine minutes from time (30-14).
