Panthers vs Cowboys Week 4: History, player to watch, gut prediction

Carolina Panthers vs Dallas Cowboys Gut Prediction

Prediction: Dallas 28, Panthers 17

This team is playing confident on offense, they have an edge to them on defense, and they may just be a very talented team throughout. The Panthers bring a better defense than the Eagles did, but I think the time they are going to spend on the field could prove a huge factor. The Cowboys should be able to control the tempo of this game and handle a less-talented roster.

The absence of Christian McCaffrey, arguably the best all-around running back in the NFL, looms large for the Panthers and erases a big element of their offense. More weight goes onto Sam Darnold’s shoulders here and I am not buying stock in him. The defense has found ways to create pressure and get turnovers, two things I expect to continue this week.

Offensively, I don’t think things end up being tough, but it won’t surprise me if we struggle to move the ball and have to play the field position game at times. I like the Cowboys’ chances in that type of game. The offense has too many weapons to shut them all down.

My gut tells me the Panthers put a bit of a lid on the Elliott & Pollard Show after two weeks of dominance and force Dak Prescott to win the game. To me, it’s the classic dilemma of picking your poison. Prescott is fully capable of putting a game on his shoulders and I think we see a vintage performance that continues to put the entire league on notice.

This game won’t be the primetime national coverage that the Cowboys are used to and some former Cowboys teams faltered in these spots. I believe the 2021 Dallas Cowboys show up Sunday and handle business against a team that, while is 3-0, isn’t in the same class. I like the Cowboys to move to 3-1 and start making even more noise across the league.