Hosting “America’s Team” is always an interesting experience for the Carolina Panthers, even if they’re not always positive ones. That’s been the case of late, as the Dallas Cowboys conquered the cats at Bank of America Stadium in both 2023 and 2024.

But will 2025 be different? Well, if it is, the Panthers will not only string together an actual winning streak, but they’d also even up at a .500 record for the first time since 2021.

And aside from potentially turning a corner, here are the other big storylines for the Panthers in their latest matchup against the Cowboys . . .

Rico’s revenge

After rushing for a career-high 206 yards and a touchdown in last Sunday’s 27-24 win over the Miami Dolphins, Panthers running back Rico Dowdle implored his former team to “buckle up” for meeting here in Week 6. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer “shot back,” playfully assuring his former rusher that his team will indeed strap in.

But will they have a smooth ride in Charlotte?

Dallas has gotten plenty of grief over their ineptitude to defend through the air, but they also haven’t been great on the ground. The Cowboys’ run defense has relinquished the 11th-most rushing yards per game (127.4), are tied in allowing the fourth-most rushes of at least 20 yards (five) and are, per Pro Football Reference, responsible for costing the team a little over nine expected points (10th-worst) thus far.

With Carolina’s Chuba Hubbard out once again due to his calf strain, Dowdle is in line for a second straight start. And there’s no doubt he’ll be looking to run right over the Cowboys, just like he did the Dolphins.

The new Cowboy in town

Despite watching Dowdle amass his first career 1,000-yard rushing campaign for them in 2024, the Cowboys moved on from the Gaffney, S.C. native and University of South Carolina Gamecock this past offseason. He was replaced—and apparently, effectively so—by another Carolina boy, Javonte Williams.

Williams is, without a doubt, playing the best ball of his pro career. The Wallace, N.C. native and University of North Carolina Tar Heel is currently the league’s third-leading rusher (447 yards), and has helped provide Dallas with one of the most high-powered offenses in football.

Luckily for the Panthers, their run defense has looked less like the unit that allowed a league-high 179.8 rushing yards a contest in 2024. In fact, they just held the Dolphins to 19 rushing yards on 12 carries.

Can they tighten up once again to halt the white-hot Williams?

Dak on the attack

The other side of that explosive Cowboys offense comes courtesy of quarterback Dak Prescott, who has inserted himself into the early Most Valuable Player discussion. Prescott has connected on 71.3 percent of his passes for 1,356 yards (271.2 per game), 10 touchdowns and three interceptions—with most of that work coming without All-Pro wideout CeeDee Lamb.

Although Dallas will not have Lamb yet again, that doesn’t mean Carolina is in for an easy outing. They’ll still have to account for fellow receiver George Pickens, who has stepped up for 259 yards and four touchdowns over three games in Lamb’s absence.

For the Panthers to slow Dak down, they must keep up the pressure they found in Week 5—where they notched a season-high three sacks. And if Carolina can’t muddy the waters for Prescott, then they might have trouble hanging around for the upset.

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