Ryan Fitzgerald kicked a 55-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in the first half, drawing the Panthers within 17-13 of the Cowboys at halftime. The Panthers get the second-half kickoff.
The Panthers outgained the Cowboys 178 to 160 in the first half, but they had the only turnover and a crucial penalty on third-and-long.
Tetairoa McMillan couldn’t catch a pass he should have caught, and Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson picked Bryce Young’s throw. Wilson returned the pick 21 yards to the Carolina 25, and Panthers running back Rico Dowdle was penalized for unnecessary roughness, giving Dallas the ball at the 12. The Cowboys scored on a fourth-down play when Dak Prescott found fullback Hunter Luepke on a legal rub play.
The Cowboys’ other touchdown came on Jake Ferguson’s 19-yard reception, his fourth touchdown in the past three games. The Panthers had the Cowboys stopped at their own 35 after an incompletion on third-and-11, but Jaycee Horn was called for a questionable pass interference on Ferguson.
The Cowboys are 2-for-2 on fourth down, converting their second after George Pickens fell down on a defensive hold by Mike Jackson but got back up and caught an 8-yard pass on fourth-and-4 at the Carolina 30. That set up Ferguson’s touchdown.
Prescott is 14-of-18 for 137 yards and two touchdowns, with Pickens catching five for 74. Javonte Williams has only 21 yards on seven carries.
Dowdle, who topped 1,000 yards rushing for the Cowboys last season before signing with Carolina in the offseason, has 80 yards on 13 carries and two catches for 17 yards. Bryce Young is 9-of-12 for 90 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He threw a 19-yard score to McMillan, who has two catches for 27 yards.
The Cowboys and Panthers traded red-zone field goals before Dallas made Carolina pay for a turnover.
A Bryce Young pass bounced off the hands of Tetairoa McMillan and into the hands of Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson. He returned the pick 21 yards to the Carolina 25. Panthers running back Rico Dowdle was penalized for unnecessary roughness, half the distance, giving Dallas the ball at the 12.
It took four downs, but on fourth-and-1 at the 3, Dak Prescott hit fullback Hunter Luepke for a touchdown.
It was Luepke’s first career touchdown reception, giving the Cowboys a 10-3 lead.
Prescott is 7-of-10 for 69 yards and a touchdown, with George Pickens catching two for 43.
McMillan and Dowdle, though, made up for their miscues on the Panthers’ next chance. The Panthers drove 65 yards in six plays behind Dowdle’s running.
He already has nine carries for 65 yards against his former team, having warned them a week ago to “buckle up.”
McMillan finished the drive with a 19-yard touchdown reception from Young. It was McMillan’s first career touchdown.
The teams are tied 10-10.
Kyler Murray won’t be part of the Cardinals’ bid to avoid a fourth straight loss.
Murray missed two days of practice this week with a foot injury and was listed as questionable after returning for a limited workout on Friday. A report on Sunday morning indicated that he will miss the game and the Cardinals made it official 90 minutes ahead of their game in Indianapolis against the Colts.
Jacoby Brissett will start for the Cardinals and he’ll be backed up by Kedon Slovis, who was signed off of the practice squad this week.
Cardinals at Colts
Cardinals: QB Kyler Murray, CB Elijah Jones, DL Darius Robinson, OL Demontray Jacobs, OL Josh Fryar, WR Xavier Weaver, DL Bilal Nichols
Colts: RB Tyler Goodson, CB Kenny Moore, TE Will Mallory, WR Adonai Mitchell, QB Anthony Richardson, T Luke Tenuta, DE JT Tuimoloau
Rams at Ravens
Rams: WR Tutu Atwell, LB Omar Speights, G Beaux Limmer, T Rob Havenstein, TE Colby Parkinson, DE Deshaun Johnson
Ravens: QB Lamar Jackson, LB Roquan Smith, CB Chidobe Awuzie, FB Pat Ricard, T Carson Vinson, WR Tez Walker, DT Aeneas Peebles
Cowboys at Panthers
Cowboys: WR CeeDee Lamb, OL Tyler Booker, WR KaVontae Turpin, LB Jack Sanborn, DL Mazi Smith, OL Ajani Cornelius
Panthers: TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, CB Akayleb Evans, RB Chuba Hubbard, S Trevian Thomas, T Taylor Moton, DT Jaden Crumedy, DT Tershawn Wharton
Seahawks at Jaguars
Seahawks: QB Jalen Milroe, S Julian Love, CB Devon Witherspoon, CB Riq Woolen, LB Derick Hall, OL Josh Jones, TE Nick Kallerup
Jaguars: S Kahlef Hailassie, RB Cody Schrader, LB Yasir Abdullah, OL Robert Hainsey, DT Khalen Saunders
Chargers at Dolphins
Chargers: WR Quentin Johnston, WR Derius Davis (knee), FB/DL Scott Matlock, OL Jamaree Salyer, T Joe Alt, OL Trey Pipkins, CB Nikko Reed
Dolphins: QB Quinn Ewers, RB Jaylen Wright, CB Storm Duck, DT Zeek Biggers, LB Tyrel Dodson, WR Cedrick Wilson Jr., DB Elijah Campbell
Patriots at Saints
Patriots: QB Tommy Devito, S Jaylinn Hawkins, LB Anfernee Jennings, DT Eric Gregory, G Caedan Wallace, DE Keion White
Saints: S Ugo Amadi, CB Rejzohn Wright, OL Torricelli Simpkins, OL Xavier Truss, DT Khristian Boyd, CB Isaac Yiadom
Browns at Steelers
Browns: CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse, RB Raheim Sanders, DT Mike Hall Jr., T Thayer Munford, G Zak Zinter, T Cornelius Lucas
Steelers: WR Calvin Austin, S Chuck Clark, DL DeMarvin Leal, DL Logan Lee, OL Andrus Peat
The Cowboys, at 2-2-1, have themselves in position to potentially stack some wins and contend in the NFC East, especially with the Eagles suddenly struggling. The team’s .500 record through five games is fitting, because the Dallas offensive performances have been great and the defensive performances have not.
Case in point: The Cowboys have gained 375 or more yards in four straight games, and the Cowboys have allowed 375 or more yards in four straight games.
That’s one game shy of tying the all-time record of five in a row, which is currently held by four teams: the 2020 Raiders, the 2018 Chiefs, the 2015 Saints, and the 2013 Eagles.
Last week, the Panthers gained 418 yards against the Dolphins. But Carolina’s defense surrendered only 248. On Sunday, we’ll find out whether the Cowboys have another 375/375 day in Charlotte.
The Cowboys ruled out wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and right guard Tyler Booker for a third consecutive game. Both have ankle sprains.
The team chose not to put either player on injured reserve, hoping both would miss only three games.
The Cowboys also ruled out wide receiver KaVontae Turpin (foot), linebacker Jack Sanborn (concussion) and running back Miles Sanders (knee/ankle). Sanders will head to season-ending injured reserve Saturday, executive vice president Stephen Jones said on his radio show on 105.3 The Fan.
The Cowboys have given seven other players an injury designation.
Left guard Tyler Smith (knee), cornerback DaRon Bland (shoulder), cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee), defensive end Marshawn Kneeland (ankle), wide receiver Jonathan Mingo (knee), cornerback Caelen Carson (knee) and offensive tackle Ajani Cornelius (knee/knee) are questionable.
Mingo and Carson remain on injured reserve and have just completed their second week of practice in their 21-day practice window.
Left tackle Tyler Guyton (concussion) is cleared to return after missing Sunday’s game.
