Every week, we gather the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the roundtable. This week we have Brian Martin, Tom Ryle, and RJ Ochoa, David Howman and Jess Haynie.
Which side played better last week against Carolina, offense or defense?
This is a tough question. On offense, Cooper Rush and the rest of the crew managed to pull off 410 all-purpose yards and scored three passing touchdowns. But on defense things went just as impressively. The Panthers offensive line had allowed one of the fewest number of sacks all season but against Micah Parsons and company they surrendered a total of six sacks. On top of that, the defense caused four turnovers and allowed only 32 rushing yards against Chuba Hubbard, who was a top-10 rusher coming into the game.
Jess: The defense rallied from losing DeMarvion Overshown last week and stepped up in several ways. After weeks of Bryce Young getting praised for his progress, Dallas forced him into a rough day. It was the more impressive showing overall.
Tom: It’s a strange feeling to have to think about this, because both were more than impressive. While we have to take into account the opponent, this was as good an all-around game as we’ve seen in a while. I’ll differ from Jess, because the offense was consistent and showed a real ability to stretch the field. They also scored three times in the red zone and controlled the ball well with the run game. What really impresses is that they are doing this with a line that is so battered, bruised and depleted.
Howman: Easily the defense. I liked what I saw from the offense, but the Panthers also came into this game dead last in scoring defense, and the Cowboys had several short fields to work with. Much of that had to do with the defense, who shut down a Panthers offense that’s shown signs of life lately. They forced more takeaways and had more sacks than the last three opponents had against Carolina combined. Mike Zimmer has these guys balling.
Brian: Both sides of the ball surprisingly played well against the Panthers in Week 15, but I think I’d have to give the edge to the defense. They completely dominated Bryce Young and Company, creating a total of four turnovers and six QB sacks. This is the type of production we were used to seeing under Dan Quinn’s tutelage, but haven’t seen nearly enough under Mike Zimmer’s.
RJ: While I think that the offense more than deserves their flowers, I don’t know how you can go with anything but the defense. As Jess noted, to overcome the Overshown loss, and to have so many sacks and turnovers, it was quite the day at the office.
With so many injuries on the roster and then pulling off a performance like they did against Carolina, plus their recent form, does this bode well for Mike McCarthy to return as head coach next year?
It’s not been perfect by Mike McCarthy this season, and some of the play-calling has raised eyebrows during the games. But McCarthy, with so many Pro Bowlers and starting roster players missing, has managed to somehow get the Cowboys to six wins this season.
He started the regular season with injuries hindering him and also had to start the season with one hand tied behind his back thanks to Jerry Jones not restocking the roster. But here we are looking at a McCarthy led Cowboys getting three wins in the last four games, and managing to get the team to bounce back after such a heartbreaking loss to Cincinnati.
Jess: If Jerry Jones bases his decision on how his team looked against the 2024 Carolina Panthers, then we’re in big trouble.
Tom: I have no idea what Jerruh is thinking. But this was a very good job of coaching, getting the team ready and up for this one. And as the announcers said, if you are going to drop your head coach, you danged well need to have a better option. I don’t know there is one, especially when you factor in Jerry’s reluctance – or refusal – to go with a new, untested coach.
Howman: This game alone doesn’t move the needle much, but the accumulation of what we’ve seen the last month or so does. The team is still playing hard for McCarthy, and the defense is looking legitimately great now that everyone has fully adjusted to the new scheme. To echo Tom’s point, the question has to be asked of who you replace McCarthy with, and I don’t think there’s any attainable coaches out there who can fix the problems this team has right now.
Brian: Jerry Jones and Company should have all of the info they need in regards to Mike McCarthy’s future in Dallas. Nothing that happened against the Panthers for the rest of the season should change things. If they believe he is the best for the job moving forward they should give him a contract extension. If not, they should already have their sights set on his replacement.
RJ: If we are willing to be objective about this all then I have no idea how you can’t feel like what McCarthy is doing is impressive. When we consider the way that his predecessor fared when he lost consequential players to the roster, how can you not be at least mildly impressed?
Which player had the bigger day against Carolina: Rico Dowdle, CeeDee Lamb, Osa Odighizuwa or Micah Parsons?
Returning to the big victory from Sunday, the game was not without some really outstanding individual performances. CeeDee Lamb led the team in receiving with nine receptions, 116 receiving yards and an eye-popping touchdown in the corner.
Rico Dowdle has now gone three consecutive games rushing for over 100 yards. At a time when Cowboys fans are talking which running back to draft, Dowdle is getting it done, and in a big way.
Micah Parsons showed out once again and pulled off two sacks against a Panthers offensive line that had done well protecting their quarterback. He also added four tackles and led the team with seven total pressures.
Osa Odighizuwa seemed to be the instigator on every play while he was on the field. He was just behind Parsons in pressures but also got to Young for a sack and created a fumble from Young. An outstanding day from Odighizuwa.
Jess: Going with Odighizuwa based on performance versus expectations. That was one of the best individual efforts from a Cowboys DT that we’ve seen in a long time. We knew those other three would have good days.
Tom: Again, it is just weird to have so many options. I see the point about Odighizuwa, but I have to take Dowdle. He had 149 yards on 25 carries, a 6.0 ypc average. The Panthers could not stop him, and to me he was the biggest key to the victory.
Howman: Yes. In all seriousness, give me Lamb. With all due respect to Cooper Rush, Lamb had to adjust to plenty of really poorly thrown balls in this game, and he did so routinely. It raises the question of why he wasn’t able to do things like this when Dak Prescott was out there, but I won’t quibble about that now, because Lamb has been on another level this past month.
Brian: Although all of these players are deserving, I have to go with Rico Dowdle on this one. He’s been arguably the best running back in the league for the past few weeks, and proved that once again against the Panthers. Carolina had no answer for him and it helped open up things in the passing game for CeeDee Lamb to have a big game.
RJ: I’m going to go with Osa Odighizuwa. He has been phenomenal this season and has had such an underrated career. I am already upset about him leaving in free agency.
