Written by AP Sports Writer Steve Reed.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Dak Prescott’s main focus for Sunday’s game was to not underestimate the NFL’s lowest-ranked team, according to the quarterback from Charlotte, North Carolina.

Together, he and DaRon Bland ensured that the Cowboys were unable to do so.

On Sunday, Prescott passed for 189 yards and scored two touchdowns. Bland also made an impressive feat by tying an NFL record with his fourth interception return for a touchdown of the season. Despite being favored to win by 10 1/2 points, Dallas dominated the game against the Carolina Panthers with a final score of 33-10. This victory marks their fourth win in the last five games.

Prescott stated that the team needed to concentrate on the present moment and not underestimate their opponent, especially when comparing their skills on paper. They had to start quickly and maintain their focus in order to successfully complete their task. And, as a result, they were able to achieve their goal.

Bland successfully intercepted a pass from Bryce Young while diving near the sideline in the fourth quarter. He quickly got back up and ran 30 yards to score a touchdown, increasing the lead to 30-10. This tied a record previously held by Eric Allen (1993) of the Philadelphia team, Jim Kearney (1972) of Kansas City, and Ken Houston (1971) of Houston.

“When I woke up, I thought to myself, ‘I need to hurry and secure a spot in the end zone again,'” Bland said enthusiastically.

He considered this to be his most impressive touchdown return so far, as it required athleticism to evade players and reach the end zone.

Bland has the second-highest number of touchdowns on the team, which is uncommon for a cornerback in the NFL, especially on a team like the Cowboys with a high-scoring offense.

Bland expressed amazement and determination, saying, “When you really think about it, that’s unbelievable. I’m going to make an attempt to beat the record now.”

Tony Pollard rushed for 61 yards and scored a touchdown, while CeeDee Lamb added his fifth touchdown of the season for the Dallas Cowboys (7-3), with most of the crowd supporting the team.

In the recent game, Young had 16 completions out of 29 attempts for a total of 123 yards. Unfortunately, the top draft pick threw his third interception returned for a touchdown in the past three games. He also lost possession of the ball due to a fumble. The Panthers, who have been owned by David Tepper since 2018, will have their sixth consecutive losing season with their current record of 1-9.

Panthers coach Frank Reich expressed his frustration with the team’s lack of desired results. He acknowledged the disappointment felt by the coaches, players, and fans, and acknowledged that change may not happen as quickly as desired.

“You must maintain focus and resilience, holding onto your goals every day and persevering through difficult times.”

The Cowboys recorded seven sacks on Young and held the Panthers to only 187 yards and 13 first downs in the first game after Reich took back control of play-calling duties.

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy expressed confidence that his team would be able to generate a strong pass rush against the Panthers, who have given up 39 sacks in 10 games.

The Dallas football team has been scoring an average of 33.6 points in their past five games. Quarterback Prescott has been on a streak of three consecutive games with over 300 passing yards and three touchdowns. However, in their recent game against Carolina, the team did not heavily rely on his passing skills. Running back Pollard performed well and the defense effectively shut down a weak Carolina offense.

The last two minutes of the opening half were indicative of Carolina’s error-filled season.

Following Carolina’s touchdown, Eddy Pineiro’s kickoff went out of bounds, resulting in the Cowboys gaining possession at their own 40-yard line.

Carolina’s defense had two opportunities to leave the field, but they were penalized twice for unsportsmanlike conduct, resulting in a loss of 30 yards and giving Dallas two first downs. The first occurred when Amare Barno tackled Prescott while he was sliding, short of the first down marker on a third down play. Later on, DeShawn Williams pushed KaVontae Turpin in the back after what seemed to be a third down stop.

Prescott capitalized on the opportunity with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Lamb in the end zone corner, extending Dallas’ lead to 17-3 before halftime.

In the third quarter, the Panthers made a comeback thanks to Young successfully converting three consecutive fourth downs. Two of those were completed passes to Adam Thielen. The drive ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Young to Tommy Tremble, marking only the third offensive touchdown for Carolina in their last four games.

However, Dallas responded promptly with an eight-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 21-yard touchdown run by Pollard – his first scoring play since Week 1. This increased their lead to 14 points early in the fourth quarter.

“I am pleased for my teammate,” Lamb expressed about Pollard’s highly anticipated touchdown run. “I informed him that we were going to set him free. The offensive line executed well in creating a path for him, and he successfully took advantage of it. It’s satisfying to witness his speed and power in full effect.”

INJURIES

No injuries reported.

UP NEXT

The Dallas Cowboys will be hosting the Washington football team on Thanksgiving day.

The Panthers will be traveling to Tennessee for their game on Sunday.

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The AP NFL website can be found at https://apnews.com/hub/NFL.

Source: wralsportsfan.com