Cowboys get another blowout win, 33-10, but it was a close game until late

The Dallas Cowboys visited the Carolina Panthers for Week 11 and came away with a solid 33-10 victory. Dallas needed to win to keep the pressure on in their playoff push, and the team delivered, even though it wasn’t as dominating as many thought it would be. The Panthers actually made it close into the third quarter, but a Cowboys outburst of points led to the blowout score.

Dak Prescott didn't have a big statistical game, but he was clean and accounted for two touchdowns passes. Tony Pollard had an efficient day with 12 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown. DaRon Bland pitched in on the scoring with another pick-six. The real star of the game was the Cowboys pass rush who harassed Bryce Young all day and collected six sacks. Micah Parsons ended up with three sacks and led a Dallas defense that kept things under control.

Dallas moved to 7-3 on the season, and now has a quick turnaround with the Thanksgiving game coming up.

Let’s recap the action.

1st Quarter

The Cowboys got the ball first only to go three and out to start the game. Pressure on Dak Prescott on a second down play disrupted the sequence. The Panthers subsequent drive got off to a good start with a few first downs with Adam Thielen getting some work done. But all that stopped when Micah Parsons got a huge sack forcing a punt. The Cowboys followed with a drive that included some solid runs from Tony Pollard. Luke Schoonmaker then cashed it in for a touchdown on a perfect seam pass from Prescott from just inside the redzone.

The Panthers started a decent drive after the Cowboys went up 7-0, only to be stopped by a Parsons’ sack for the second time. The Lion was feasting. The Cowboys drive finished the quarter with the Cowboys up 7-0.

2nd Quarter

The Cowboys continued driving after Michael Gallup picked up a third down. A holding call on Tyler Smith stalled things, but CeeDee Lamb drew a pass interference call to move things closer to the redzone. The drive was prolonged on a horse-collar call that moved Dallas into the redzone. Dallas couldn’t close the deal so Brandon Aubrey hit a chip-shot FG for a 10-0 lead. After a quick three-and-out for Carolina, Dallas was back on offense.

The Cowboys were unable to get anything on their drive and punted it back to the Panthers. Carolina started getting their run game going and moving the ball. A good pass play moved them to the 27-yard line and a long run had them set up in the redzone. The Cowboys defense stood up behind a DeMarcus Lawrence sack and forced the FG. Dallas 10 - Carolina 7.

The Cowboys final drive of the first half was extended on personal foul call as Prescott was hit late on a run, and then another personal foul on a late shove to KaVontae Turpin after another play was dead. Both plays were on third-down stops for the Panthers. Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb for the TD to make it 17-3 at halftime.

3rd Quarter

The Panthers had the ball first to start the second half, and promptly went 3-and-out. The Cowboys took over after the punt but stalled quickly and had to punt it back. Carolina got the drive moving on the ground but stalled around midfield and had to punt. Sam Williams got a running into the kicker penalty on the 4th-and-7 punt to give the Panthers a chance at a 4th-and-2 which they converted. The Panthers tried another fourth-down play and converted with Thielen again, and then converted another 4th and very short to get to around the 15. The Cowboys couldn’t contain Thielen and the Panthers eventually cashed it in for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 17-10.

Dallas’ drive close out the third quarter, one where the Panthers showed some life, putting pressure on Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense. The final play of the quarter was a long pass to Jake Ferguson on third down, setting Dallas up in the Panthers’ territory.

4th Quarter

The fourth quarter started with the Cowboys driving and Lamb converted a first down on an end around. Finally the Cowboys got some relief when Tony Pollard broke off a long run for a touchdown, putting Dallas back up 24-10. On the first play of the Panthers drive, we got a DaRon Bland specialty. He performed another pick-six after a diving interception where he got up off the turf and ran it in for the score. The Cowboys now had a very comfortable 30-10 lead after Aubrey missed the extra point.

The Panthers took over after the kickoff and moved the ball, but another Parsons’ sack, and then an Armstrong one, put Carolina in third and long. Young, under pressure, fumbled on third down and Donovan Wilson recovered. Dallas was set up at the Panthers 27-yard line. Prescott methodically moved them forward but had to settle for an Aubrey FG. Dallas led 33-10.

Sam Williams got on the board with a sack, essentially ending the Panthers drive. After a punt, Cooper Rush took over and the game went into full garbage time. Cowboys win 33-10.