Two NFC teams eager for a victory are set to clash on Sunday as the Dallas Cowboys (5-8) take a trip to face the Carolina Panthers (3-10). When these teams met in Week 11 of last season, the Cowboys secured a decisive 23-point win on the Panthers’ home turf. Currently, the Cowboys are recovering from a narrow 27-20 defeat to the Bengals on Monday night, failing to cover the spread as 4.5-point underdogs. The Panthers, on the other hand, recently faced off against the Eagles, losing 22-16 while also covering the spread as 13.5-point underdogs. In this matchup, the Panthers are favored to win by 3 points. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM EST at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, with the game broadcast regionally on FOX.
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Who will emerge victorious in this NFC showdown? Keep reading for insights on the Cowboys vs. Panthers prediction.
Cowboys Struggle in Primetime
The Dallas Cowboys are reeling from their recent Monday night loss to the Bengals, a game where they had opportunities to win. Late in the game, Dallas managed to block a punt but failed to recover it, allowing Cincinnati to regain possession. Despite this setback, the Cowboys had previously secured victories against the Giants and Commanders, and they still retain a glimmer of hope for a playoff spot, sitting just three games behind the final Wild Card position. In the loss to Cincinnati, Rico Dowdle had an impressive outing, rushing for 131 yards.
Coach Mike McCarthy addressed the disappointing defeat, stating, “We understand that we dug ourselves a hole. We had to have this one tonight. This is a very disappointing loss.”
With Dak Prescott sidelined for the season, the Cowboys have turned to backup quarterback Cooper Rush. Rush has accumulated 1,191 passing yards, maintaining a 59.3% completion rate with a 7-3 TD-INT ratio. He has not been a frequent scrambler, totaling just 15 rushing yards this season. Dowdle, coming off his best performance, boasts 731 rushing yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry, along with one rushing touchdown and three receiving touchdowns. CeeDee Lamb is the standout player in their offense, recording 973 receiving yards and five touchdowns, though he is currently listed as questionable due to a shoulder injury.
The Cowboys rank 21st in the league, averaging 20.6 points per game, while their defense sits at 31st, allowing an average of 28.2 points per game. Eric Kendricks leads the team in tackles with 119, while Micah Parsons has tallied 6.5 sacks, often facing double-teams that limit his opportunities. The Cowboys’ secondary has recorded 10 interceptions, with Trevon Diggs and Malik Hooker each contributing two.
Injury Report:
Questionable: WR CeeDee Lamb, CB Trevon Diggs, LB Nick Vigil, LB DeMarvion Overshown, CB Jourdan Lewis, G Cooper Beebe
Panthers Show Resilience Despite Losses
The Carolina Panthers have faced challenges in recent weeks, yet bettors have found solace in their performance against the spread. In their last three games, the Panthers lost by three points each to the Chiefs and Buccaneers, followed by a six-point defeat to the Eagles, consistently covering as underdogs. With two earlier wins also contributing to their record, the Panthers have now covered the spread in five straight games. Adam Thielen stood out in the Eagles matchup, catching nine passes for 102 yards.
Quarterback Bryce Young has demonstrated improvement over his last five games, leading to potential discussions about a new contract in the future. Young’s performance includes an average of 209.8 passing yards per game, complemented by a 5-2 TD-INT ratio. Although he runs less than he did in college, he has still accumulated 137 rushing yards this season. Chubba Hubbard recently surpassed 1,000 rushing yards, currently sitting at 1,011 with eight touchdowns. Rookie receiver Xavier Legette leads the team in receptions with 39 for 432 yards and four touchdowns, while Thielen, despite limited appearances, has 367 receiving yards in six games.
In terms of scoring, Carolina ranks 28th with an average of 17.9 points per game, and their defense is at the bottom, allowing 29.8 points per game. Xavier Woods is the top tackler with 89, and he leads the team with three of their seven interceptions. Defensive end A’Shawn Robinson is the sack leader with 4.5 of the team’s 25 total sacks.
Injury Report:
Questionable: RB Raheem Blackshear, LB Josey Jewell, LB DJ Wonnum, LB Jadaveon Clowney, CB Jaycee Horn.
Best Bets for Dallas Cowboys vs. Carolina Panthers
