Cowboys vs. Panthers Week 1: Lackluster offense leads to a 16-8 Dallas loss

The Dallas Cowboys lost their season-opener 16-8 to the Carolina Panthers. An offense that was awful for three quarters had one nice moment, but fell apart again when they needed to score. The offensive line was a huge problem in Week 1 and will need massive improvement going forward. Check out our full recap.

Fourth Quarter

The Cowboys risked a 4th-and-10 at midfield, and didn’t get it. Now they are going to get the ball back with two minutes left after a punt.

The Panthers are backed up with a 2nd-and-26, if the Cowboys can stop them, there is a chance. On 3rd and 14, who is it? It’s your El Capitan of the Hot Boyz, DeMarcus Lawrence for the SACK.

The Cowboys cap off the drive with a Zeke TD on an option pitch play, and then Prescott converts the two-point conversion on a QB draw. Carolina 16 - Dallas 8.

The Cowboys offense is finally putting together a crisp drive. Some Zeke runs mixed with the passing game has them deep in Carolina territory.

The Cowboys defense was unable to hold Carolina as they drive right down the field and put it into the endzone. The only good thing is Carolina botched the extra-point. Carolina is up 16-0 at the start of the fourth quarter.

Third Quarter

The Cowboys finally drive into scoring position and try a 47-yard FG... guess what happened? Miss! Still 10-0.

After three plays, the Cowboys defense gets off the field and the offense goes back on the field with decent field position.

The Cowboys finally got some things going with Allen Hurns and Ezekiel Elliott but it was all for naught as they couldn’t pick up the 3rd and 3. Panthers pinned inside their 20 on the punt but the Cowboys should have considered going for it..

Panthers were driving but then Maliek Collins decided that he was tired of dealing with Cam Newton and sacked him on 3rd and 13.

HALFTIME

Second Quarter

Cowboys hold Panthers to three points. We’re heading to halftime, Panther 10, Cowboys 0.

As we near halftime, the Cowboys defense is wearing down, the Panthers are in the red zone.

Cowboys offense is stalling. After they moved the ball a little bit, Prescott had a wide-open Blake Jarwin for a huge gain and he underthrows him badly. Could have been a possible TD, or Prescott could have run for the first down. Neither happened.

Another Cowboys’ offensive possession, Dak takes another sack, this time by Kawaan Short. The Cowboys offense stalls again and Chris Jones is back out punting the ball.

The Panthers will be without Greg Olsen for the rest of the game:

A couple of good runs by McCaffery to get the Panthers in the red zone. Cam Newton does the rest. 7-0 Panthers

Dak gets sacked on first down by a blitzing Shaq Thompson. Then a dangerous throw thankfully doesn’t get picked, Chris Jones punts 51-yards, the Panthers get 30 yards on the return.

On first down, Sean Lee hits McCaffery for no gain. On second and 10, Cam to McCaffery incomplete. 3rd and 10, the “Hot Boyz” get help from blitzing linebackers, Carolina will punt.

First Quarter

As the first quarter winds down, Kavon Frazier beat on second and long by the veteran Greg Olsen. On the next play, Damien Wilson gets caught up and Cam Newton gets the first down.

On the Cowboys ensuing drive, they get the passing game going a little with Cole Beasley but the offensive line picks up a holding call. Not the best start for Tyron Smith with two of the Cowboys four penalties. The Cowboys punt it back to the Panthers.

Cam Newton has used his feet a couple of times and has the Panthers in the red zone. Panthers face a third and two, Christian McCaffery FUMBLES & it’s Cowboys ball.

Cowboys defensive line stuffs Panthers on first two plays, incomplete pass on third would have lead to a punt, but they called a sketchy roughing the passer on DeMarcus Lawrence.

Cowboys had a nice screen to Tavon Austin called back by a penalty on Tyron Smith. Then a delay of game on the offense backs it up to a 3rd and 25. Sloppy start for the Cowboys. Punt.

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Pregame

Sunday is here. It’s time, Cowboys fans. The 2018 season kicks off this Sunday with a game on the road against the Carolina Panthers. We can put 2017, and the offseason, behind us as things begin for real.

This is a new-look Cowboys team with Tony Romo retiring two offseasons ago, and now Jason Witten (retired), Dez Bryant (released) and Dan Bailey (released) are also gone. The Cowboys are Dak Prescott’s and Ezekiel Elliott’s team, with DeMarcus Lawrence and Sean Lee the faces of the defense.

The Cowboys also shuffled their coaching staff with a ton of new assistants, including secondary coach/passing game coordinator on defense, Kris Richard. He’s famous for building the Legion of Boom, can he do something similar with the Cowboys secondary?

It’s going to be a fascinating start to the season as we watch a re-tooled Dallas team start its quest for a playoff spot.

Here are a few interesting nuggets from the NFL Communications office about the Cowboys:

• COWBOYS have a 38-19-1 (.667) record on Kickoff Weekend, tied for highest winning pct. in NFL history.
• Since entering NFL in 2016, Dak Prescott leads all QBs with 12 rush TDs.
• Prescott is 6-1 in past 7 starts on road with 9 TDs vs. 2 INTs & 101.4 passer rating.
• Since 2016, Ezekiel Elliott is tied for league lead in total TDs (25) & ranks 3rd in NFL in scrimmage yards (3,246).
• DE DEMARCUS LAWRENCE tied for 2nd in NFL with career-high 14.5 sacks in 2017. Had 1.5 sacks on Kickoff Weekend last year. Has 8 sacks, 2 FRs & 2 FFs in his past 8 on road.
• Since 2015, Sean Lee ranks 3rd in NFL with 374 tackles.

Here’s your info for the game.

What You Need To Know

Important links: Cowboys depth chart | Roster

Date: September 9th, 2018

Game time: 4:25 PM EST

Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

TV channel: FOX

Coverage Map: 506 Sports

Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews (Field reporter)

Radio: 105.3 The Fan | Full listings | SIRIUS: 127 (Dal), 82 (Car) | XM: 391 (Dal), 227 (Car)

Streaming: NFL.com GamePass (audio only during game), Fox Sports GO (local markets)

Cowboys record: (0-0)

Panthers record: (0-0)

Odds: Dallas +2.5

Prediction: Dallas 23 - Carolina 21

Enemy blog: Cat Scratch Reader

Twitter: @BloggingTheBoys

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