CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After three weeks of close losses to favored opponents, the Carolina Panthers were smacked back to reality by the Dallas Cowboys.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles as the Cowboys won 30-14. The loss stunted any momentum gained from the preceding five weeks when Young and the Panthers seemed to have turned a corner.
The Panthers (3-11) were favored on Sunday for the first time in over 30 games. Dallas (6-8) never trailed as quarterback Cooper Rush threw three touchdowns and running back Rico Dowdle had a season-high 149 yards rushing. Receiver CeeDee Lamb was also a game-changer for the Cowboys with nine receptions for 116 yards receiving and a touchdown.
The maligned Cowboys defense stepped up against the Panthers. The Cowboys sacked Young six times.
Carolina's defense, meanwhile, allowed the Cowboys to gain 410 yards, including 211 yards rushing. The Panthers and Cowboys are last and second-last, respectively, in points allowed per game.
Young's four turnovers led to 10 points for the Cowboys and killed promising Panthers drives.
Even with the win, the Cowboys suffered from self-inflicted mistakes the whole game. Dallas committed 14 penalties. Carolina had eight penalties.
The Panthers have lost 11 games for the fifth time in the last six years.
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The Panthers reached the red zone on their first drive but Young fumbled on a scramble. The Cowboys only managed a punt on the ensuing drive, though.
Dallas scored the game’s first points in the second quarter with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Rush to Lamb. Young committed another turnover on the next drive with an interception by linebacker Eric Kendricks.
The Cowboys added a field goal on the ensuing drive to go up 10-0.
The Panthers were shut down for most of the first half and were in danger of going down three scores at halftime. With the Cowboys deep in Panthers territory, Rush fumbled a handoff. Linebacker DJ Johnson recovered for Carolina.
One play later, Young hit receiver Jalen Coker for an 83-yard touchdown pass. It was the longest play Panthers play since Christian McCaffrey's 84-yard run in Week 5 of 2019.
Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey missed a 70-yard kick as time expired in the first half.
Carolina's second-half hopes were daunted when Young was sacked and fumbled on the first play of the third quarter. Rush scored a touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert a few plays later to put Dallas ahead 17-7.
The Cowboys added to their lead just a few minutes later with another Rush touchdown pass. This time, Rush hit Jalen Brooks for an 18-yard score.
Down three scores, the Panthers made things somewhat interesting with a score early in the fourth quarter. Young scored himself with a 6-yard run to make it 27-14. The drive featured five penalties, including two defensive pass interference penalties that converted a long fourth down and put the Panthers at the 5-yard line on consecutive plays.
Carolina's final drive ended with four minutes left in the game with a Young interception to Cowboys safety Israel Mukuamu.
The Panthers will look to end their four-game losing streak against the Arizona Cardinals in the 2024 home finale at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 22.
This article will be updated.