CHARLOTTE (CHARLOTTE SPORTS LIVE) — This was the first time the Panthers have been favored to win in two years, but, despite their obvious improvement over the last couple of weeks, Sunday’s game did not end the way they had hoped.
FINAL: 30 to 14
The Panthers’ first drive on offense was looking really good. Of the 13 plays, 7 went to Chuba Hubbard- 4 rushes for 22 yards and 3 catches for 16 yards- but Bryce Young fumbled in the red zone giving the Cowboys the ball. Carolina’s defense, playing much better as of late, quickly forced a 3-and-out to give the offense the ball back.
The Cowboys would eventually strike first on the first drive of the 2nd quarter. Cooper Rush found Ceedee Lamb for a 14-yard touchdown. In the first half, Lamb torched the Panthers’ secondary with 8 catches, 105 yards, and 1 touchdown.
Turnovers were the story of the first half. Bryce Young had a fumble and an interception which led to three points. But the Cowboys fumbled in the red zone late in the half, and on the next play, Bryce Young hit Jalen Coker for an 83-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 10-7. Aside from the turnovers, Young finished the first half completing 10 of 13 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown.
Seconds into the 3rd quarter, turnovers continue to plague the Panthers as Cowboys’ Osa Odighizuwa sacks Young who fumbles the ball. This would not be the last time he gets sacked in the remainder of the game. To add insult to injury, the Cowboys add two more touchdowns in the quarter by Jalen Tolbert and Jalen Brooks. Panthers head into the 4th, down by 17.
Seconds into the 4th quarter, Cowboys make a 45-yard field goal. Finally, the Panthers make some moves as Young rushes 6 yards to the endzone with 9:13 left in the game. Cowboys end their next drive with a field goal, putting them ahead by 16 and that’s where it stayed.
The Panthers remain in Charlotte next Sunday for their game against the Arizona Cardinals airing at 1 p.m. on FOX Charlotte.