Written by Clark Gerber, a contributor for WRAL Sports.

Dallas Cowboys	33
Carolina Panthers	10
Final

The Carolina Panthers initially showed some signs of momentum, but ultimately collapsed in the fourth quarter during their game on Sunday. The Dallas Cowboys swiftly scored 16 consecutive points, transforming what was once a close match into a 33-10 defeat.

Coach Frank Reich expressed his frustration, stating that it is disappointing when hard work and belief do not translate into desired outcomes. He empathizes with the players and also acknowledges the frustration of the fans.

Bryce Young successfully threw a 4-yard pass to Tommy Tremble, temporarily narrowing the Panthers’ deficit in the third quarter. This touchdown marked the end of a 17-play, 70-yard possession that involved three conversions on 4th down and took 8 minutes and 58 seconds to complete.

Unfortunately, the situation deteriorated rapidly following this incident.

The Cowboys quickly advanced down the field, covering 75 yards in just eight plays. Tony Pollard, the running back, sealed the deal with a strong 21-yard touchdown run through the middle.

However, on the following play, the Panthers experienced a catastrophic event.

DaRon Bland intercepted a pass from Bryce Young, immediately got up and ran 30 yards in the opposite direction, scoring Dallas’ second touchdown within a span of just 10 seconds.

This marks Young’s third interception returned for a touchdown this season, while Bland has now achieved his fourth pick-six, solidifying his reputation as one of the top defenders in the NFL. With this sudden turn of events, the Cowboys secured a commanding 30-10 lead, effectively sealing the victory.

Young stated that he needed to improve his decision-making and throwing abilities. He acknowledged that it was a good play, but recognized that he was responsible for not being able to execute it properly.

Carolina displayed potential in their rushing game against a tough Dallas defense. Collectively, they gained 111 yards on 22 carries (not including a kneel down before halftime) — averaging over 5 yards per carry.

Unfortunately, the team’s inability to defend against seven sacks proved to be insurmountable for this struggling unit.

In the first half, Micah Parsons, a prominent player, achieved 2.5 points and caused two punts. DeMarcus Lawrence also prevented the Panthers from entering the red zone with a sack, resulting in a field goal by Eddy Pineiro.

Reich expressed disappointment in our ability to protect, stating that despite having a solid plan, we were unable to carry it out effectively.

However, the defensive side was plagued by penalties, which hindered what could have been a highly commendable performance in the first half.

With just 24 seconds remaining in the first half, Dak Prescott threw a 5-yard pass to CeeDee Lamb, extending Dallas’ lead to 17-3. This was helped by a few major penalties committed by Carolina.

Amare Barno was penalized for rough play after making contact with a sliding Dak Prescott, who would have been down on fourth down. Shortly after, DeShawn Williams was also flagged for a late hit on receiver KaVontae Turpin, negating a potential stop on third down.

Overall, Carolina has incurred a total of eight penalties, resulting in a significant 90 yards.

Bryce Young completed 16 out of 29 passes for 123 yards, which was his lowest performance of the season.

The Panthers’ current losing streak stands at three games, bringing their overall record for the season to 1-9. Their upcoming three matches will be played away from home, with the first being against Tennessee next week.

Scoring summary

At 3:20 in the first quarter, Dak Prescott made an 18-yard pass to Luke Schoonmaker. Brandon Aubrey successfully kicked the extra point, bringing the score to 7-0 in favor of the Cowboys.

At 11:01 in the second quarter, Brandon Aubrey successfully kicked a 30-yard field goal, bringing the Cowboys’ score to 10-0.

At 1:56 in the second quarter, Eddy Pineiro successfully kicked a 42-yard field goal, bringing the score to 10-3 in favor of the Cowboys.

At 0:24 in the second quarter, Dak Prescott threw a 5-yard pass to CeeDee Lamb, resulting in a successful score for the Cowboys. Brandon Aubrey then made the extra point, bringing the score to 17-3 in favor of the Cowboys.

At 1:59 in the third quarter, Bryce Young threw a pass to Tommy Tremble for a gain of 4 yards. Eddy Pineiro successfully kicked the extra point, bringing the score to 17-10 in favor of the Cowboys.

At 13:58 in the 4th quarter, Tony Pollard made a 21-yard rush and Brandon Aubrey successfully completed the extra point. This brought the score to 24-10 in favor of the Cowboys.

At 1:48 in the 4th quarter, DaRon Bland made a 30-yard interception return. However, Brandon Aubrey missed the extra point attempt. As a result, the Cowboys lead 30-10.

At 7:18 in the fourth quarter, Brandon Aubrey successfully kicked a 27-yard field goal, bringing the score to 33-10 in favor of the Cowboys.

Source: wralsportsfan.com