Tag: Dallas Cowboys vs Carolina Panthers

Cowboys to play in Germany in 2024? 1 in 9 shot

After the NFL announced the home teams for the four European games next season, with only one of the team’s being on Dallas’ road schedule. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The NFL has announced the four teams who will serve as hosts in the European version of the 2024 International Series. The Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars will “host” games in London, England and the Carolina Panthers will be the “home” team for a game in Munich, Germany next fall.

While Dallas doesn’t haven’t any of the London teams on their schedule next year, they do travel to the Panthers as part of the NFC East and NFC South divisional rotations in 2024. That means they are one of nine opponents which could be selected to travel across the Atlantic to show some NFL diplomacy.

The Cowboys have played in the International Series just once, traveling to London to face the Jaguars, who annually play there. The NFL has yet to announce who the home team will be for the league’s first foray into South America where they will play a game in Brazil in 2024.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been very adamant about not wanting his franchise to lose a home game in order to support the league’s expansion into other markets. However he has noted he has no problem being the big-ticket draw as the visiting club, as long as he doesn’t have to give up any home dates at AT&T Stadium.

The NFL voted to expand the series during the Winter Meetings, and will have nine international games a year starting in 2025. All teams will have to host a game, but that will potentially include Mexico City, the one international destination Jones isn’t adamant in avoiding.

Major Takeaways from another blowout victory for the Cowboys

Dallas whips another opponent, but what are the major takeaways they can look at heading into the Thanksgiving game? | From @cdpiglet

The Dallas Cowboys continued to roll in Week 11, getting so far out in front their starters were once again sitting in the fourth quarter. They beat down the Carolina Panthers in their house, marking a fourth win in five games. The single loss was on the road against the team with the best record in the league, and that came down to the last drive.

The Panthers kept the game relatively close on the scoreboard but made too many mistakes to a superior opponent, and eventually Dallas pulled away. Since their loss in San Francisco, the Cowboys have outscored their opponents 168-92 and have clicked in all areas of the game more than ever in the Mike McCarthy era. The special teams unit has been consistently great all year. The defense had seven sacks and an interception return for a TD. The offense has been great since Week 5 but was safe in this game, making sure they didn’t do anything to put this game in jeopardy.

Dallas has a short week to study the game, recover, and plan for the upcoming matchup. Here are some major takeaways they can look forward to or clean up going forward.

Placekicker Brandon Aubrey faces his biggest test yet with Cowboys

A missed extra point essentially ruined the career of a past Cowboys kicker, so how Brandon Aubrey responds to his Week 11 miss is critical. | From @ReidDHanson

Brandon Aubrey has been nothing short of brilliant this season for the Cowboys. The 28-year-old rookie has gone a perfect 21-for-21 this season on field goals, including four from 50+. In Sunday’s 33-10 win over the Panthers, Aubrey set an NFL record for most consecutively made field goals to start an NFL career.

For as impressive as all of that is, it wasn’t the record-breaking kick or the perfect 2023 field goal percentage he’s carrying this season that means the most going into Week 12. It was his missed extra point – or rather, how he responds to the missed extra point.

On the heels of his record setting accomplishment, Aubrey hooked an extra point attempt left. It was his first deviation from flawless in ten weeks and a public test of resiliency and fortitude going forward.

A missed extra point attempt essentially doomed the Cowboys previous placekicker less than a year ago. It was in 2022 when Dallas’ kicker at the time, Brett Maher, was on a similar upward trajectory with the Cowboys.

Like Aubrey, Maher had more doubters than supporters early in the year. Like Aubrey, Maher slowly strung together good kick after good kick and became one of the most accurate kickers of the season. Like Aubrey, he was also one of the most powerful in the sport, residing at the top of the leader board in touchbacks and routinely splitting the uprights from 50+ yards deep. And like Aubrey, a routine missed extra point threatened to ruin it all.

Maher’s missed extra point in Week 18 was easy to laugh off at the time. He had a track record of success by that stage and the miss looked to be nothing more than a hiccup. But that hiccup planted a seed in Maher’s mind and the Cowboys star placekicker went on to miss five of the next six attempts.

It seemed overcoming failure was their kicker’s the biggest obstacle. He was physically capable of being the best in the game but mentally he couldn’t come to grips with the slightest mistake. This highlights arguably the most critical trait of an NFL placekicker: mental resiliency.

Following the missed extra point, Aubrey went on to make a field goal, ending the day on a positive and keeping his field goal steak alive. But Maher’s issue with the extra point “yips” also resided somewhat independently from his field goals.

While Maher only made 14 percent of his extra points to close out the campaign, he went a clean 2-for-2 on field goals through the postseason. For whatever reason, his field goal success didn’t help his confidence in extra points.

This becomes Aubrey’s biggest hurdle going into Week 12.

Aubrey has to simply show the one miss didn’t plant a seed of self-doubt in his head like it did Maher. Luckily for him, it’s a short week. The Cowboys play on Thursday so there’s no time for quiet reflection and midweek ponderings on the matter.

With soccer being the most popular sport on the planet, there are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people physically capable of being an NFL kicker. But only a handful of them who have the mental capabilities. It’s what sunk Maher in 2022 and it’s what threatens to rerail Aubrey in 2023.

This is all probably making a big deal over nothing, but then again, that’s what last year felt like too. It’s a big week for Aubrey and if he bounces back like many think he will, he’ll be truly battle-tested.

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‘Just makes another goal’: Cowboys’ Bland will get ample chances at record

From @ToddBrock24f7: The 2nd-year CB is already tied for the all-time record, with 7 games- all against interception-prone passers- remaining on the schedule.

DaRon Bland is garnering a reputation for two things. One is the low-key businesslike demeanor with which he conducts himself, on and off the football field. Even after a record-tying effort against Carolina, the Cowboys’ second-year cornerback shrugged it off as- literally- just another day at the office.

“Just doing my job, the kind of stuff I feel like I’ve kind of been doing,” Bland said following the team’s 33-10 win. “I always felt it myself, so it never really hit me because it felt like just another day.”

But there’s a very small handful of guys who have ever had a day quite like Bland did on Sunday, which brings us to the second thing he’s become known for.

His fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown was his fourth of the season. Only three other players in NFL history have had that many pick-sixes in a single campaign: the Eagles’ Eric Allen in 1993, the Chiefs’ Jim Kearney in 1972, and the Oilers’ Ken Houston in 1971.

But none of them did it in 10 games.

Houston needed two return scores in the 1971 season finale- the team’s 14th game- to set the record. A year later, Kearney scored his fourth in Week 12. And in 1993, Allen had just two pick-sixes heading into the 15th game of the 16-game season.

Amazingly, Bland has seven more games to do it again and have the record for himself.

“It just makes another goal,” he admitted Sunday, “just to break it.”

As it is, the cornerback is tied for second place- trailing only CeeDee Lamb, no less- for the Cowboys lead in touchdowns thus far this season.

“He’s scoring touchdowns. At that point, he’s a part of the offense when he’s getting in the end zone as much as he is,” quarterback Dak Prescott noted in his postgame press conference.

Bland’s latest score came after making an incredible catch, using just his fingertips to snatch out of midair a pass intended for Panthers receiver Jonathan Mingo. Bland admitted that Mingo originally had him beat on the route.

“I’d seen him running under, and he kind of had a step on me at first,” he explained. “So I had to catch up, and then once I caught up and I turned, I saw the ball, and I was like, ‘Yes. I’ve got to go get this one,’ because I only had about three targets, so I had to make the most of my opportunities.”

Bland laid out and completed a rather-acrobatic somersault as he completed the catch, joking later, “There were some cheerleaders in my family.”

But then once he realized he hadn’t been touched, muscle memory kicked in from the former high school wide receiver.

“When I got that ball, when I got up, I was like, ‘I’ve got to go. I’ve got to just find the end zone again,” he said. “Having to actually run the ball and having to actually make some moves. Getting up like that, you don’t really get a return like that.”

Except Bland does, with startling regularity.

In fact, he told Erin Andrews of FOX Sports after the game went final that he had even called his shot prior to kickoff.

“He said, ‘I told you I was going to get one,'” Prescott confirmed for media members. “I said, ‘I didn’t know you were going to score.’ His expectations, his standards, he said, ‘That comes with it.’ That’s just great to hear. That’s what he believes in. Ball guy. You put it near him, inaccurate with a throw- trust me, I’ve known it from the time he showed up, just practicing against the guy- he’s a big-time playmaker. He’s doing a hell of a job.”

The fifth-round draft pick out of Fresno State even has Micah Parsons- arguably the most dominant defender in the game since entering the league three seasons ago- campaigning for the 24-year-old to win some hefty postseason awards.

“Seeing him come into his own is truly special. Remarkable. He’s having a Defensive Player of the Year year. He should be a lock for All-Pro; it shouldn’t be a question,” Parsons told reporters. “It’ll be fun to see how he finishes this year.”

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Bland is currently tied for the 2023 league lead in interceptions (six, along with Baltimore safety Geno Stone) and already has more interceptions since the beginning of last season than anyone.

And come Thursday, he’ll square off against Washington quarterback Sam Howell, who has thrown an NFL-most 12 interceptions this season. That’s tied with Buffalo’s Josh Allen, who the Cowboys will face in Week 15. Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa, Detroit’s Jared Goff, Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, and Seattle’s Geno Smith all have more than seven picks this season, too; those teams just happen to be the Cowboys’ remaining opponents.

So Bland should certainly get his chances at a few more really good days at the office.

Asked if pick-sixes have become “his thing,” Bland, just 27 regular-season game appearances into his career, gave an embarrassed smile and a typically aw-shucks response.

“I guess so.”

And then he went back to work.

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Studs and duds from Cowboys’ 33-10, Week 11 win over Panthers

A vintage performance from the pass defense and Tony Pollard helped the Cowboys to a 33-10 win over the Panthers in Week 11. | From @BenGrimaldi

There wasn’t much anticipated suspense when Dallas played the one-win Carolina Panthers. The game followed a familiar script in the 33-10 blowout win for the Cowboys.

In games against sub-par opponents, the Cowboys get out to a lead and the defense finishes things off in spectacular fashion. That’s exactly how it played out in Week 11. The offense was efficient in putting the team up double digits, and then Dan Quinn’s unit put the game on ice with three sacks and a Pick-6 in the fourth quarter.

It might not have been as easy as the scoreboard read in the end, but the outcome never felt in danger for the Cowboys, despite the Panthers pulling within one score in the third quarter. There is just too much talent on the Cowboys’ sideline, and they got great performances from their best players.

Here are the studs and duds in their sixth win by 20 points or more on the season.

4 Downs: Parsons, Pollard return to form; dumb penalties play big role in Cowboys win

From @ToddBrock24f7: Micah Parsons and Tony Pollard got back to what they do best, but dumb penalties were also among the plays that determined the outcome.

Week 11’s trip to North Carolina was closer than many observers expected for much of the afternoon, but in the end, the 33-10 Dallas win also allowed several Cowboys players to perform closer to what fans have been expecting.

Micah Parsons looked more like his usual game-wrecking self after a rare quiet performance the week prior, and Tony Pollard found the end zone once again after a surprisingly long absence.

Sunday’s game provided several other highlight-reel moments — Luke Schoonmaker scores! DaRon Bland does it again! — but NFL games are also decided by the plays that find the world’s greatest athletes called out for screwing up.

Here are four plays, both unforgettable and a little regrettable, that went a long way in deciding the outcome of the Cowboys-Panthers tilt in Charlotte.

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Good, Bad & Ugly: Cowboys pass rush pops, Wildcat flops vs Panthers

From @ToddBrock24f7: Micah Parsons & Co. gave Bryce Young fits in Sunday’s win, but the Wildcat needs work and Zack Martin suddenly looks very human.

The Cowboys lapped the competition in the home city of NASCAR, but they waited until the home stretch to put the pedal to the metal. The 33-10 final provided plenty of highlights, especially during that fourth-quarter onslaught of points, proving that the Dallas offense, when they flip the switch, is always at least capable of going high-octane and leaving almost any opponent in the dust.

It wasn’t all green-flag racing for the Cowboys, though. While the defense came crashing in on Bryce Young early and often, there are still some tune-ups needed before the caliber of opponents improves dramatically after Thanksgiving.

And while the team is tinkering back at the shop, there was a weird little hiccup every time the offense punched the button labeled “Wildcat.” Might want to get that looked at before the race to the 2023 finish line.

Here’s a look back at the good, the bad, and the ugly from the Cowboys’ big win in Carolina.

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Cowboys’ hostile takeover of Panthers’ stadium from eyes of a Charlotte native

.@CdBurnett7 got to cover his favorite team in person for the first time, and took in the entire experience at Bank of America Stadium.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Dallas Cowboys fanbase always travels well, but seeing it happen in real-time is a different animal. Growing up as a Charlotte native who only knew what it was like to be at a Panthers game, a stadium full of Carolina colors was always the norm. As I grew up, so did my taste in football with the Cowboys, but Sunday’s sight was still something to behold.

Panthers head coach Frank Reich put the writing on the wall when it was time to practice silent counts for a game in Bank of America Stadium. From 8 a.m. downtown, almost every person walking the streets was wearing the star in Cowboys colors.

Speaking to tailgaters before the game, the message was simple: It’s a Dallas family.

“That’s what we have here. A lot of family and we’re gonna enjoy ourselves and just enjoy the fellowship.” Steve Butler said. He’s a 45-year faithful fan from South Carolina who made the trip up to see Dallas in person.

Photo taken by Cowboys Wire contributor Cameron Burnett. All rights reserved.
Photo taken by Cowboys Wire contributor Cameron Burnett. All rights reserved.

It’s been three years since the last time America’s Team waltzed into Charlotte. For perspective, Allen Hurns was Dallas’ No. 1 wide receiver in that game. That can make even a 22-year-old feel aged. This year’s contest was very different, on and off the field.

The Cowboys throttled the Panthers 33-10, and the overwhelming majority of the 73,534 were wearing Dallas colors. It was a win-win for the team and fanbase, having an all-out party in Charlotte.

This just so happened to be my first time in the press box at an NFL game, watching my hometown team and my die-hard team. It’s a soundproofed room, but you wouldn’t know that with how loud the Cowboys cheering came through the glass.

It was a surreal experience.

A lone Carolina touchdown drive was the only time it reminded those in attendance the game wasn’t actually at AT&T Stadium. While taking the walk into mini-JerryWorld, it was impossible not to notice a decked-out golf cart with Dallas logos all over it.

Photo taken by Cowboys Wire contributor Cameron Burnett. All rights reserved.
Photo taken by Cowboys Wire contributor Cameron Burnett. All rights reserved.

That’s the crown jewel of Bobby Scriven, a Cowboys fan from Clemmons, N.C., just an hour from Charlotte. He says everything in his house has the Star, so why not a golf cart?

Scriven had a Tony Dorsett jersey for game, one of almost every notable Dallas jersey you could name being worn down Mint Street. What a sight it was, and take it from Scriven, this is just in the fanbase’s nature.

“Taking over the stadium, Dallas Cowboys things.”

Carolina Kitchen: Cowboys keep cooking, dominate Panthers 33-10

The Cowboys once again throttled an overmatched opponent, setting themselves up for a strong second half of the season. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys have found themselves in a zone since their embarrassing defeat in San Francisco all the way back in Week 5. On Sunday, the club traveled to the friendly confines of Bank of America Stadium, where Cowboys Nation had taken over the ballpark to make it a home away from home.

And while the play wasn’t nearly as explosive as it was the week prior in their romp over the New York Giants, the results were the same. Dallas used a patient approach on offense and a pressurized one on defense to stymie the Panthers by the score of 33-10. The win moved Dallas to 7-3 on the season.

Quarterback Dak Prescott had a safe day, throwing for 198 yards and finding both rookie TE Luke Schoonmaker and Pro Bowl WR CeeDee Lamb for touchdowns. They were joined in the end-zone celebrations by Tony Pollard, who scored for the first time since Week 1 and cornerback DaRon Bland, who has outscored most of the Dallas offensive playmakers.

Bland returned a Bryce Young pass 31 yards for his fourth Pick-6 of the season, tying an NFL record. It was part of a strong defensive effort that rattled the rookie QB the entire contest, holding him to 123 passing yards.

The Cowboys started the game by announcing former head coach Jimmy Johnson would be inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor later in the year. It ended with them putting together a 23-point road win in a game where they weren’t executing at their best.

LOOK: Cowboys CB DaRon Bland gets 4th Pick-6 of 2023

Bland ties an NFL record last accomplished 30 seasons ago. There’s still seven games left to go. | From @KDDrummondNFL

DaRon Bland has done it again. The Cowboys cornerback has been an incredible addition since being drafted by the club in the fifth round of the 2023 draft. After leading the 2022 team in interceptions despite only getting significant snaps in half of the games, he’s elevated his play in Year 2.

Now on the boundary, Bland has been the best cornerback in football this season, and he proved it yet again in Week 11. On an outbreaking route, Bland somehow caught up and dove for the ball, securing his sixth interception on the year. But he wasn’t done, getting up and racing the ball back 31 yards for his fourth Pick-6 of the season.

Bland has tied the NFL record in just 10 contests, with his fourth interception return of the season. He’s the fourth to do it, it was last done by Eric Allen 30 years ago in 1993.

Bland now has 11 interceptions over the course of the last two seasons, the most in the NFL.