As the Dallas Cowboys prepare to face the Carolina Panthers this Sunday, both teams enter with their own storylines.
Dallas, currently sitting in the middle of the NFC standings, has reestablished itself as one of the league’s most dangerous teams, boasting the NFL’s #1 overall offense but with a defense that has not lived up to expectations.
QB Dak Prescott is playing some of his best football, leading an offense that’s averaging well over 30 points per game during its recent stretch.
On the other side, Carolina continues to rebuild around quarterback Bryce Young, who’s shown incremental improvement but is still seeking consistency behind a struggling offensive line.
This will be the fourth meeting between these two teams in the past five seasons, and recent history has heavily favored the Cowboys.
Dallas has won the last three matchups, including a convincing 30-14 win in 2024, and now holds a commanding 12-3 advantage in the all-time series.
The familiarity between these two teams has created some intriguing trends, and if the past few meetings are any indication, fireworks could be in store once again.
As always, my bold predictions are exactly that: bold.
They push the line of what’s likely, but they remain firmly within the realm of possibility based on recent trends and matchups.
With that in mind, here are three bold predictions for Sunday’s Cowboys vs. Panthers showdown.
Dallas Puts Up a 50-Burger
This is bold, but not impossible.
The Cowboys’ offense has been red-hot, and they’ve been dominant against Carolina in recent years, scoring 30 or more points in each of their last three matchups.
Dak Prescott has complete command of this offense right now, distributing the ball to George Pickens, Jake Ferguson, and dare I say, Ryan Flournoy with precision.
Still, hitting the 50-point mark is a rare feat.
Dallas has only done it three times in the Prescott era, and it takes a near-perfect offensive day to reach that total, but given the mismatches Dallas has on the perimeter and Carolina’s 18th-ranked scoring defense, the pieces are in place for a potential explosion.
If the Cowboys start fast and avoid turnovers, 50 points isn’t just a dream; it’s possible.
Bland Robs Young
CB DaRon Bland hasn’t quite looked like himself since returning from injury, managing only one interception in his last 15 games. However, this week’s matchup could help him regain that ball-hawk form.
Bland has history with Bryce Young. He intercepted and returned a pick for a touchdown against him in 2023, and nearly had another one last season.
With the Panthers’ offensive line struggling and Young often forced into hurried throws, Bland will have his opportunities.
Expect DC Matt Eberflus to dial up pressure, forcing Young into making a mistake on the perimeter, exactly where Bland thrives.
A timely interception could swing momentum and remind everyone why Bland was once among the league’s interception leaders.
Cowboys Hold Dowdle Under 40 Yards
This one feels extra bold considering what happened last week.
Rico Dowdle just rushed for a career-high 206 yards against Miami, while the Cowboys defense allowed Breece Hall to gash them for 114 on just 13 carries.
On paper, that’s a scary combination for Dallas. However, expect the Cowboys to respond with pride.
Linebackers Marist Liufau and Shemar James have shown growth, and DT Osa Odighizuwa is poised for a bounce-back game.
Dallas will load the box and challenge Bryce Young to win through the air, keeping Dowdle bottled up and limiting Carolina’s ability to control the clock.
If the Cowboys’ defense executes, holding Dowdle under 40 rushing yards could serve as a statement that last week’s struggles were an anomaly, not a trend.
Bold? Absolutely. Impossible? Not at all.
The Cowboys have the firepower, playmakers, and motivation to make all three predictions come true, and if they do, another dominant win over Carolina will follow.
