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The Dallas Cowboys entered Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season with confidence after a solid win over the New York Jets. They expected to continue their momentum on the road against the Carolina Panthers. Week 6, though, delivered a shocking upset. In a high-scoring shootout decided by a last-second field goal, the Cowboys found themselves on the wrong end of a 30-27 loss that exposed their glaring weaknesses more than their talents.
Sure, Dak Prescott had three touchdowns and a solid 261 passing yards. However, defensive breakdowns and a sputtering run game combined to undo the Cowboys’ promising start. The Panthers were ironically led by former Dallas running back Rico Dowdle’s dominant ground performance. Thid game’s implications for the Cowboys run deeper than just this one loss.
Carolina’s offense made a statement on the ground with Dowdle piling up 216 yards and two touchdowns. He utterly dominated a Cowboys run defense that allowed only 31 rushing yards all game. The decisive moment came on an epic 71-yard drive capped by rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald’s game-winning 33-yard field goal as time expired. That was an agonizing blow for Dallas.
Despite Prescott’s solid night through the air, Dallas struggled mightily to control the trenches or slow the Carolina rush. The game painted a grim picture of a Dallas defense ranked dead last in the league. They just could not deliver the stops necessary for victory. The Cowboys just looked outplayed and outcoached in their biggest test yet.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss how the Dallas Cowboys proved they’re contender material after beating the Panthers.
Coach Matt Eberflus’s defense has proven to be one of the most disappointing storylines for Dallas this year. Allowing an average of 30 points per game, they have failed to complement an MVP-level offense led by Prescott. The defensive scheme often appears disjointed and players look regularly outmatched by opposing offenses. Against the Panthers, the lack of pressure and inability to defend the run were prominently on display.
Eberflus’ tenure teeters precariously as questions arise about his viability in leading this defense forward. Whether Brian Schottenheimer keeps faith in Eberflus or charts a new course could shape the Cowboys’ future success. After six weeks of minimal improvement and blowout losses, though, the urgency for change grows louder.
Once again, cornerback Donovan Wilson found himself at the center of a pivotal breakdown that swung momentum toward Carolina. Late in the fourth quarter, Wilson’s blown coverage led to a wide-open touchdown reception by Tetairoa McMillan. That score gave the Panthers a lead they never relinquished.
It also forced Dallas into a desperate comeback attempt. Wilson’s defensive awareness and situational recognition continue to be glaring liabilities. His inability to correct these recurring errors puts immense strain on an already beleaguered unit. For Dallas to move forward, Wilson’s coverage issues...
