FRISCO – Just over a year back, the Dallas Cowboys journeyed to Charlotte, North Carolina, facing entirely different conditions. They were tallying another victory in their quest for a position in the NFC Playoffs, while Bryce Young was having difficulty staying afloat in his first season.
At that time, the Cowboys’ defense dominated Young and a struggling Carolina Panthers offense. Dallas recorded seven sacks on Young and created two turnovers, one of which was a pick-six returned by Da’Ron Bland. Fast forward to this season, and the Cowboys and Panthers are both well outside the playoff race. Neither has been mathematically ruled out just yet, but they also do not expect a miraculous surge to January.
Yet, the Panthers come into this matchup as the betting favorite and possibly with increased confidence due to Young’s recent performance. Carolina has dropped their last three matches, yet they have challenged three teams in the current NFL playoff standings significantly. “The confidence stems from the extensive effort… due to all the studying, due to all the challenges faced in practice,” Panthers head coach Dave Canales stated this week. “If there’s one aspect he takes pride in, it’s being consistent.”
For the Cowboys and Mike Zimmer, the top priority on Sunday will be to eliminate that confidence and do so quickly. It begins with defensive standout Micah Parsons, who recorded 2.5 of the seven sacks the Cowboys achieved against Young last season. Dallas started off intense against a clearly vulnerable Cincinnati Bengals offensive line and achieved some success with that approach initially. Aiding in stopping Young from getting into the rhythm of the game would help them.
Connected: ESPN Suggests Belichick ‘Preferred’ North Carolina Over Cowboys. Coverage must improve for the Cowboys compared to Monday, as Young will dodge defenders and seek passing opportunities or yardage with his legs. Against Tampa Bay, Young connected with Adam Thielen on a 25-yard throw to secure the go-ahead touchdown by executing a scramble drill and advancing the ball downfield.
If the Cowboys fail to complete plays, they are vulnerable to similar results during the game. Does Dallas possess a Bryce Young strategy for Sunday? A team in the NFL that has nothing to lose is among the most perilous to confront. That risk increases with a young quarterback possessing talent who is finally gaining some confidence. If Young starts strong and finds his rhythm early in the game, it could pose problems for the Cowboys seeking a rebound performance.
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