Carolina Panthers vs. Dallas Cowboys

Carolina Panthers vs. Dallas Cowboys

Sunday, December 15, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.

Bank of America Stadium
800 S. Mint St.
Charlotte, NC 28202

Tickets: $48.40 plus (Gametime: $43 plus)

After winning back-to-back games against the Saints and Giants in November, the Panthers have lost their last three against the Chiefs, Buccaneers, and Eagles by an average margin of just four points. In some of the most thrilling games in recent years for the Panthers, quarterback Bryce Young has reemerged and exhibited the skills that made him the team’s No. 1 pick in 2023.

Veteran receiver Adam Thielen continues to be Young’s favorite and most reliable target, averaging 10 catches and 100 yards in his last two games. The Panthers will also get rookie Jalen Coker back this week after he’s been out since the Giants game in Germany with a quadriceps injury.

The Panthers will have to rely heavily on running back Chuba Hubbard against the Cowboys with the injury of Jonathon Brooks, who suffered a right ACL tear on Sunday (the same knee he injured in college at Texas). Hubbard hit a 1,000 yards rushing for the first time in his career against the Eagles, making him the first player since Christian McCaffrey (2019) to reach the milestone. With Raheem Blackshear suffering a chest injury against the Eagles (out against Cowboys), the team has activated running back Mike Boone from the practice squad and signed veteran wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. earlier this week to help in the return game.

Both teams have struggled stopping the run this season as the Panthers allow a staggering 170.1 yards per game (32nd) and the Cowboys average 141.9 (30th). Asheville, North Carolina native and former South Carolina Gamecock running back, Rico Dowdle, has been on a tear for the Cowboys averaging 109.6 yards per game on 5.63 yards a carry in his last three games. The Panthers will need to focus their efforts on stopping the run, especially with Trevin Wallace out with a shoulder injury. Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush, who has started the last six games since Dak Prescott’s season-ending hamstring injury, has passed for less than 200 yards a game against the Giants and Bengals in the last two weeks.

The Cowboys rank 31st in points allowed per game (second only to the Panthers), but their pass defense has struggled this year allowing 223.4 yards per outing (11th worst in the NFL). It was announced on Saturday that All-Pro cornerback, Trevon Diggs, is out for the rest of the year for the Cowboys with a season-ending knee surgery, making their pass defense even more vulnerable. For the Panthers, with a healthy offensive line back together again, they’ll need to stay consistent with the running game and attack downfield on play-action passes to help mitigate the rush from dynamic linebacker Micah Parsons.

The Carolina Panthers will take on the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, December 15 at 1:00 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium, airing on Fox.

Read next: