Despite coming up short in the decisive moment of the game with a three-and-out, Dak Prescott had another strong performance. However, the Dallas Cowboys’ defense is a disaster – and for good reason, it’s currently the worst in the league. Under head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the Cowboys suffered a 30-27 loss to the Carolina Panthers, a defeat that pushes them further away from a potential playoff spot.
To make matters worse, the Cowboys were embarrassed by their former running back, Rico Dowdle, who left the team to sign with Carolina. Against his old team, Dowdle ran for 183 yards, caught a touchdown pass, and totaled 239 yards from scrimmage, setting a Panthers franchise record. Meanwhile, Bryce Young also took advantage of Dallas’ weak defense, throwing three touchdown passes.
Despite the team’s disappointing record, Dak Prescott continues to play at a high level. He threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns, but once again, the Cowboys’ running game was nonexistent, producing just 31 total rushing yards. The main issue, though, was Prescott’s inability to deliver when it mattered most.
Cowboys’ playoff chances drop
Before this game, the Dallas Cowboys were coming off a tie against the Green Bay Packers and a blowout win over the New York Jets, which had fans starting to believe in a possible playoff run. Even if the standings didn’t fully reflect it, optimism was growing – especially considering that, after Micah Parsons’ departure, the Cowboys were originally projected to be out of contention.
However, this loss to the Panthers dealt a major blow to those hopes. The Cowboys’ playoff odds dropped from 32% to 8% following the heartbreaking defeat, according to Kalshi.
At the moment, the Dallas Cowboys hold a 2-3-1 record, sitting third in the NFC East, ahead of the New York Giants but behind the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders. The season isn’t lost yet, but Dallas must show significant improvement – especially in their next game against the Commanders, a key divisional rival.
With a win over Washington, the Cowboys could climb to second place in the division. Things are about to get interesting in the NFC East, as both the Eagles and Commanders have struggled early in the season, while the Giants, led by rookie Jaxson Dart, are starting to show signs of life.
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