Elliot and Cowboys run over Panthers defense, final score 36-28
Photo by Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Yet again Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas Cowboys give an amazing performance as they ran over the NFL’s No. 1 defense, the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, October 3rd.
Elliott carried 20 times for 143 yards in the two-time rushing champion’s first triple-digit game of the season, Prescott threw four touchdown passes and the Cowboys beat the Panthers with a final score of 36-28.
Elliott scored the first touchdown as the Cowboys, who are currently 3-1, rolled up 245 yards on the ground after the Panthers allowed just 135 total in the first three games while also leading the league in passing and total yards with thanks to Pollard who contributed 67. But aside from many opinions against them, the Dallas Cowboys defense is a defense that brings a lot of different fronts. They run a lot of different things so because of that, they’re going to change it up on teams from time to time.
Leading the Panthers in their first full game without running back Christian McCaffrey, Darnold had two rushing touchdowns to become the first NFL quarterback with at least five touchdowns in the first four games. For the Panthers, it was just a matter of time of what defenses wanted them to do. If the Cowboy’s defense wanted to show any type of look, then the Panthers are going to take advantage of that. Which is what they did basically throughout the game, it just wasn’t enough this time to come out with a win over Dallas.
Trevon Diggs had two interceptions for an NFL leading five while becoming the first Dallas Cowboy with a pick in each of the first four games of the season since the 1970 merger. He’s “player of the month, working on his second month of the season,” Mike McCarthy said. As of late Diggs has shown a good amount of talent and confidence, which is a huge responsibility as he’s delivered two huge plays there in the second half of the game.
The Cowboys sacked Darnold five times, including two from Gregory, while Dallas kept Prescott upright against the Panther’s defense, who entered the game with an NFL best of 14 sacks. Though Carolina’s pressure sure did force Prescott into more incompletions than he’s used to while completing 77.5% of his passes the first three weeks. Three of the touchdowns came in the third quarter to take away a 41-13 halftime score as Prescott finished 14 of 22 for 188 yards.
Elliott set up Schultz’s short-scoring catch with a 47-yard run, which is his longest since a 55-yarder as a rookie in 2016. Cooper missed some early series because of a right hamstring injury but returned to lead Dallas with receiving yards of 69. His touchdown came when he beat the Panther’s new cornerback CJ Henderson down the sideline and made the catch.
The Dallas Cowboys have yet again proven that they’re not the same team as last year, as they still are No. 1 in the NFC East and at 4-1 right now. With Prescott back better than ever and Elliotts’ confidence up at 100, the Cowboys have shown all that they bring to the table.
