Here are our bold predictions for this week’s game between the Cowboys and Panthers.
The Dallas Cowboys are back in action Sunday afternoon as they visit the Carolina Panthers. Up against a short week and playing in their first road game since late November, this will be a more difficult matchup than most expected coming into the year.
Before the two teams square off, here are three bold predictions for the game.
Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images
1) Bryce Young continues his resurgence, tossing multiple touchdown passes for the second time this season
Coming into the season, we knew how big of a year 2024 was for Bryce Young. The former number-one overall pick struggled during his rookie year, completing just 59% of his passes and throwing for 11 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions
It was imperative to both Young and the Panthers that the 23-year-old quarterback progressed during the offseason and got off to a good start this season. Unfortunately for both parties, the opposite occurred. Young struggled to the tune of just three touchdown passes and six interceptions in the first six games he played in this season. Things got so bad that he eventually was benched and replaced by veteran Andy Dalton.
Young eventually got his job back after Dalton suffered an unfortunate thumb injury in a car accident. While he didn’t light the world on fire right out of the gate, Young’s last five performances have been much better. The young quarterback has thrown five touchdown passes to just one interception in those games, three coming against capable opponents in the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Over those three weeks with games against potential playoff teams, Young is ninth in the NFL in EPA/Play (0.154) and thirteenth in EPA + CPOE. (0.109)
This week Young has a chance to build upon his solid performances against a Cowboys’ pass defense that gave up over 350 yards through the air last week. Young stays hot and hurts the Cowboys through the air early, tossing multiple touchdown passes in a game for just the second time this year.
Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images
2) Rico Dowdle continues his hot stretch, recording a career-high 135 rushing yards
Ever since the Cowboys fully handed over the reins to Rico Dowdle as their lead back, he’s been one of the best running backs in all of football. Over Dallas’ last three games, Dowdle has carried 59 times for 329 yards, averaging an impressive 5.58 Y/A.
During this three-game span, he is second in the league in rushing yards, yards after contact, and designated rushing attempts of more than 15 yards. He is also in the top five in first-down runs, missed tackles forced, and explosive runs.
This week Dallas’ running back gets another favorable matchup facing a Panthers’ defense that has struggled against the run all year. Carolina is last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed (2,211) and 31st in rushing touchdowns allowed (19), yards per attempt (5.0), and defensive Rush EPA. (0.066) The Panthers have also given up 180 or more rushing yards in more than half (7) of their games.
Even with a banged-up offensive line, Dowdle and the Cowboys should have no problem running the ball with consistent success against the Panthers’ defense. Dowdle has arguably the best day of his career as the 26-year-old records a career-high 135 rushing yards.
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3) Cowboys call and convert a fake punt, leading to a pivotal touchdown
The Cowboys have had plenty of things go wrong on special teams this season. Whether it was the failed fake punt against the Falcons and Texans or the muffed punt that led to last week’s loss against the Cincinnati Bengals, things have been anything but normal for Dallas’ special teams unit this year.
This week Cowboys’ special teams coordinator John Fassel has another trick up his sleeve on a short week. Dallas calls their third fake punt of the season, but this one finally goes their way. The Cowboys convert the fake punt, leading their offense to score a pivotal touchdown.