CHARLOTTE, NC — It's been quite a ride for the Dallas Cowboys to this point in the season, a roller coaster that includes a tie in overtime with the Green Bay Packers and an MVP-caliber stretch from All-Pro quarterback Dak Prescott, but struggles defensively have helped fuel a 2-2-1 start as they prepared to take on the Carolina Panthers.
The contest matched the third between the two in as many seasons and all at Bank of America Stadium, so there was a very obvious familiarity in the air, making it feel more like an NFC East battle than simply an NFC one. And with the Panthers coming off a victory that saw former Cowboys' running back Rico Dowdle rush for a career-high 206 rushing yards, and telling Dallas to "buckle up" — the stage was set for Sunday — three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Kenny Clark responding by telling Dowdle to be sure to back up his talk.
Dowdle did go on to do exactly that, putting pressure on Dak Prescott to again deliver at an MVP level and, with the help of George Pickens and other weapons, he also did exactly that.
Alas, too many wounds were inflicted by the Panthers' claws in this one — though the list of players below did all they could.
[Note: This list is unranked.]
Dak Prescott, QB
If you want to be viewed as an MVP candidate in this league, you do what Dak Prescott is doing through the first six games of the season, namely putting the team on his back. Despite another round of defensive struggles that saw Rico Dowdle indeed back up his talk, Prescott was mostly lights out against the Panthers, yet another week where he needed to try and will the Cowboys to a victory. The All-Pro was 14-for-18 with 137 passing yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone (135.4 passer rating), and was 6-for-7 against the blitz — evidence of MVP-ness.
George Pickens, WR
It feels like Pickens is home with the Cowboys after a career-best outing in Week 6. When he took the quick slant on 3rd-and-2 from Prescott and turned it into a 34-yard touchdown, going over 100 receiving yards on the day in the process, it marked his sixth touchdown in his first six games for Dallas. What's more, it set a new career-high mark in the category for the former second-round pick, showing what he can be with an All-Pro and MVP candidate is the one throwing him the ball, and Pickens also tied for the most TDs by a Cowboys' player through the first six games since the NFL merger (with Dez Bryant).
Jake Ferguson, TE
The bounce back season continues for the Pro Bowl tight end. Ferguson helped create some distance on the scoreboard for Prescott and the Cowboys when he grabbed his fourth touchdown of the season, making it a 17-10 affair in the second quarter. That means Ferguson has officially tied a well-known name within the Cowboys' history books for most touchdowns by a tight end through the first six games of a season — future Hall of Famer Jason Witten — while also being a league leader in receptions through six games.
Hunter Luepke, FB
And there he is! The Cowboys rightfully have spoken highly of Luepke's potential to impact a game but, to this point in his young career, they've very rarely put it on display, though his contract extension hinted at a larger role of some sort. On Sunday, he put his fingerprints on the battle against the Panthers early in the second quarter with the first touchdown of the day for Dallas, on a three-yard touchdown pass to convert on 4th-and-1 from the Panthers' three-yard line, and his blocking looked great, per usual.
Donovan Wilson, S
There wasn't much to celebrate when it came to the defensive side of the ball, after allowing Rico Dowdle to have another big day, both on the ground and in the air, and Tet McMillan grabbing two touchdowns. It's also true, however, that Donovan Wilson's timely and athletic interception and 21-yard return on the Panthers second series of the game led to the aforementioned touchdown from Prescott to Luepke and a 10-3 lead. Credit is due for that play.
Ryan Flournoy, WR + Reddy Steward, CB
Two contributors whose stat line won't jump off of the page but whose performances will stand out on film. Flournoy followed up his career day one week prior with a solid round of critical catches made for the Cowboys against the Panthers. Steward, one of the team leaders in tackles in Week 6, looked like one of the best cornerbacks on the field, for either team, explaining why he got the start at nickel with Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland on the outside.
