What to watch in Sunday’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and the struggling Panthers
“Remember Arizona” doesn’t have the zing or substance to it as “Remember the Alamo” in Texas lore.
But it’s phrase owner Jerry Jones said his team would be wise to remember as they head into Sunday’s game at the struggling Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers are 1-8, starting a rookie quarterback, playing without their top two cornerbacks and making a change at playcaller for the second time this season.
The Panthers are also expecting it to be hostile crowd at their home stadium as they are been practicing with the silent count because they anticipate it will a Cowboys fan takeover.
This should be a cakewalk for the heavily-favored Cowboys (6-3), who have won three of their last four games and are playing their best football.
It’s even more reason why Jones is imploring his team to remember the 28-16 loss at the Arizona Cardinals earlier this year.
The Cowboys were heavy favorites and got punched in the mouth by the Cardinals (2-8).
“Remember Arizona, so when we go over here to Carolina, remember Arizona,” Jones said.
Edge rusher Micah Parsons echoed Jones.
He said the Cowboys are playing better and the circumstances are different now because they are healthy.
He the team can’t repeat the same mistake.
“We already made that mistake once, we can’t make it twice. I think during that time, there was a lot of adversity that the team was facing, things like that. We were missing half of our O-line. We’re way more healthy, way more locked in. It’s November-December football, we can’t have those kind of mishaps happen. We got to go out there and win.”
What to watch in Sunday’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and the struggling Carolina Panthers:
Can Dak Prescott and the offense stay hot?
No offense in the NFL has been better than the Cowboys over the last month, led by quarterback Dak Prescott who has had three consecutive 300 yard passing games.
The Panthers will find it difficult to slow the Cowboys down as they will be without starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and C.J. Henderson.
Prescott said it’s not about the opponent but it’s about them and there should be no slowing down of the Cowboys offense.
They are not just in a zone, this is who they are after some early adjustments and growing pains with the new scheme.
A 28-23 loss to Philadelphia Eagles proved as much to Prescott, who passed for 374 yards and three touchdowns in the game.
“I think it’s who we are,” Prescott said. “And I think that’s what makes it we’re in the zone. When you’re really feeling like yourself. I feel like if anybody individually, you get your hair cut, you put on your outfit, you’re going to be in a zone because you feel confident and this is who you are and how you feel And so for us, that’s what it’s been. Obviously even in a loss last week (Philly), there was success and we weren’t going to get down on ourselves just ‘cause she said, ‘No.’ We’re going to get right back at it and go fishing again.
Look for more Rico Dowdle with Tony Pollard at RB
The Cowboys have not lost confidence in running back Tony Pollard.
And Jones swears the GPS numbers say Pollard has the same juice as he did in 2022 despite coming off fractured ankle suffered in the playoff loss to the 49ers.
Pollard has not scored since the season opener and has just 218 yards on 62 carries over the past five games, an average of 3.6 yards per carry which is way down from his career average of 4.9 yards per carry.
Backup Rico Dowdle has shown more pop in recent weeks and has 12 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown against the Giants last Sunday.
The Cowboys are going to continue to try to get Pollard goingm but look for Dowdle’s opportunities to increase.
“We’ll see how the game goes,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “I’m thrilled to death with the way Rico is playing. But I think we do an excellent job of ball distribution. …The game dictates that. If Rico gets more carries, that would be great. But also my focus is Tony Pollard as the primary ball carrier.”
Beware of a sackless Micah Parsons
Even thought he has tried to down play it, just know that the Panthers and rookie quarterback Bryce Young will be facing a hungry Micah Parsons on Sunday after recording no sacks and no tackles against the Giants last week.
And as Parsons likes to say, the hungry lion always eats.
“I always say, I got next week. People act like I’m dead today and gone tomorrow. I get a great opportunity. I think that was one of three games where I didn’t have a sack. I think the production is there. My presence is felt. You look at what I’m — it’s getting to the point where these QBs are taking one read and running outside of the pocket, scared for their lives so I don’t think it’s anything about production-wise. I guess time will tell.”
Parsons leads the Cowboys with 7.5 sacks and is among the league leaders in quarterback pressures.
Opponents have done a good job of focusing the protection on him with double and triple teams, allowing his teammates to make plays.
But his presence is constantly around the quarterback and look for him to get home against the Panthers.
