If you can think of a tribulation, the Dallas Cowboys have tried it. Injuries, star players traded right before kickoff, an owner flipping off fans, although which team those fans support depends on who you ask.
Yet, despite all of these issues, Dallas has the chance to get above .500 if they can pull off the win against the Carolina Panthers. What will they need to do to walk away with the W, and what will have happened if they end up on the wrong side of the scoreboard?
The Cowboys Will Win If…
The Cowboys will win if their defense can string together a second strong performance. While that may sound obvious, they’ve yet to do so this season.
After a respectable showing in the opener when they limited the Philadelphia Eagles to 24 points, the defense allowed at least 31 points in three straight games. Thanks to an elite offense, they were able to either win or tie two of those games but, when the offense faltered in Week 3 against the Chicago Bears, the team was blown out by 17 points.
So, after limiting the putrid New York Jets to 22 points in a Week 5 win that included two garbage time TD’s from New York, this presents an opportunity for the defense to show that they’ve truly turned a corner.
If they can do so, it would show that this Dallas team, while flawed, can beat the bad teams. For a team still harboring hopes of making the postseason, that will be key moving forward.
The Cowboys Will Lose If…
The Cowboys will lose if they can’t force Bryce Young to be more than a game manager while also avoiding giving up splash plays. In the Panthers’ two wins, Young has not thrown for more than 200 yards while also having either a player record a 50+ yard rushing touchdown or a defensive touchdown.
In their 27-22 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2, Young did throw for over 300 yards and three TDs, but he was responsible for all of the scoring himself. In their other two losses, he threw for 154 yards or less.
All this is to say that, if Dallas lets the Panthers offense stay balanced while giving up splash plays, they’ll be in for a disappointing day. If they can both avoid self inflicted wounds and force Young to carry more of the load for Carolina though, they should be walking a winning team.