The Dallas Cowboys (2-2-1) are back in action this Sunday, facing off against the Carolina Panthers (2-3). Dallas will try to build upon their dominant performance from last week, aiming to win consecutive
games for the first time this season.
Before the two teams square off, here are three bold predictions for the matchup.
1) Cowboys’ pass-rush builds on last week’s dominant performance, recording four sacks
For the first time this season, Dallas’ pass rush showed up in a big way last week against the Jets. The Cowboys recorded 32 total pressures and five sacks against New York, with five different defenders recording at least part of a sack.
This week, Dallas’ defensive front gets another favorable matchup, facing a Panthers’ offensive line that has struggled in pass protection. Carolina has the sixth-worst Dropback EPA in the league (0.004) and is in the bottom 10 in the NFL in average time to throw (2.58 seconds).
Carolina’s struggles in pass protection have put plenty of pressure on 24-year-old quarterback Bryce Young. The young signal caller has done a nice job avoiding negative plays, but has still been sacked nine times in four games.
Dallas’ defensive front builds upon its dominant performance from last Sunday, putting consistent pressure on Young and ending the day with four more sacks.
2) Carolina’s run defense continues to shine, holding Javonte Williams under 50 rushing yards for the first time this year
Week 1 was an absolute disaster for the Panthers’ run defense. In that matchup against the Jaguars, Carolina surrendered 200 rushing yards, allowing Jacksonville’s starting running back, Travis Etienne, to average 8.9 yards per attempt.
Since that disaster of a performance, Carolina’s run defense has looked like a different unit. From Week 2 on, Carolina’s defense ranks 12th in the NFL in defensive rush EPA (-0.147).
Last week against the Miami Dolphins, Carolina’s run defense hit their stride, completely eliminating Miami’s rushing attack. The Dolphins totaled just 19 rushing yards in the game, and Carolina’s defensive rush EPA of (-0.441) was the second-best of any team in the league this season.
While the Cowboys have done a very nice job in the run game so far this season, they may face their toughest test of the year this Sunday. The interior of Carolina’s defense is going to make it very hard for the Cowboys to get anything going in the run game.
Cowboys’ running back Javonte Williams has had an outstanding start to the season, but he and Dallas’ run game as a whole will hit their first real roadblock on Sunday. Carolina holds Williams under 50 rushing yards as their run defense continues to shine.
3) Jake Ferguson records his second-straight two-touchdown game
Coming into Dallas’ Week 4 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, Cowboys’ tight end Jake Ferguson had gone 22 straight regular-season games without scoring a touchdown. Ferguson broke the long streak that night, scoring his first touchdown in almost a year and a half.
The tight end didn’t stop there, as he scored two more touchdowns in Dallas’ matchup last week against the New York Jets. This week, Ferguson has a chance to continue his hot streak against a Panthers’ defense that has given up plenty of touchdowns to opposing tight ends.
In their five games this season, Carolina has given up a touchdown to tight ends Darren Waller, Hunter Henry, and Hunter Long. In their one other matchup, where their defense allowed at least one touchdown, Cardinals’ tight end Trey McBride did not score a touchdown, but he did record six catches for 78 yards.
It’s evident Carolina has struggled to slow down the opposition’s tight ends, especially in the red zone. Jake Ferguson will continue this trend on Sunday, as he scores two touchdowns for the second straight game.
