Some stats that may tell the story Sunday.

[Verge]

Just going to drop these here and let the story tell itself. 

Carolina this season has is on pace to have the best run defense in NFL history by a wide margin, allowing a mere 45 rush yards per game and 2.6 yards a carry. Which in turn has forced teams to rely purely on the passing game against them and their ferocious pass rush.

Dak Prescott since 2017 is 13-21 when throwing more than 30 times in a game and is 6-16 in the same time frame when his RBs go under 100 yards. 

[Luciu5]

Our defense is on pace to be "the greatest NFL defense of all time" statwise, across the board.  I don't expect that to hold all season long, but man is this group special.  I really hope our defense puts up some significant stats against the Cowboys high powered offense. 

I cannot see how our defense wouldn't show out on Sunday because if it's not our defense, then it says a whole lot about how brutally awful the past 3 teams are - as in all 3 being the worst offenses in the history of the NFL.  I just don't think you get 3 historically bad offenses from 3 different teams in the same season.

[Verge]

1 minute ago, Luciu5 said:

Our defense is on pace to be "the greatest NFL defense of all time" statwise, across the board.  I don't expect that to hold all season long, but man is this group special.  I really hope our defense puts up some significant stats against the Cowboys high powered offense. 

I cannot see how our defense wouldn't show out on Sunday because if it's not our defense, then it says a whole lot about how brutally awful the past 3 teams are - as in all 3 being the worst offenses in the history of the NFL.  I just don't think you get 3 historically bad offenses from 3 different teams in the same season.

Worth noting the Saints average 33 points a game this season when not playing the Carolina Panthers. 

[SBBlue]

47 minutes ago, Verge said:

Worth noting the Saints average 33 points a game this season when not playing the Carolina Panthers. 

Haven't you heard?  Kamara forgot how to run and  the Saints OL forgot how to block during our game and didn't have the the defensive assistant coaches there to remind them how.  Poor sobs.

[@bonafidebanter]

I'm looking for Dallas to run a lot of 12 personnel. They tend to spread you out and go empty with it. 

[Khyber53]

Any thoughts on how we're able to shut down the running game? Is it the d-line (I've seen Burns and Reddick very involved in run D rather than just existing as pass rush specialists), is Brown that good at clogging up the middle? Are our LBs playing like the second coming of the Three Horsemen (Luke, Davis and Thompson)? Big support from DBs and safeties?

Or is it just an overall explosion of motivation? The entire defense seems to take this personal that they will own the field. There are so many of them in on every tackle, very little standing around and being out of place. Playing with drive and desire.

Dang, this iteration of the Panthers has been long awaited!

[Luciu5]

8 minutes ago, @bonafidebanter said:

I'm looking for Dallas to run a lot of 12 personnel. They tend to spread you out and go empty with it. 

Do the TE's stay in and block or usually run routes? 

Against us, I'd guess they are probably better off as receivers with the hopes Dak gets the ball out with a free runner in his face.  When we rush 4, there are typically at least a couple blockers just doing nothing, so extra blockers won't help them as much as more targets.

[Luciu5]

Just now, Khyber53 said:

Any thoughts on how we're able to shut down the running game? Is it the d-line (I've seen Burns and Reddick very involved in run D rather than just existing as pass rush specialists), is Brown that good at clogging up the middle? Are our LBs playing like the second coming of the Three Horsemen (Luke, Davis and Thompson)? Big support from DBs and safeties?

Or is it just an overall explosion of motivation? The entire defense seems to take this personal that they will own the field. There are so many of them in on every tackle, very little standing around and being out of place. Playing with drive and desire.

Dang, this iteration of the Panthers has been long awaited!

There's a good video floating around here on our run defense.  Has to do with how they line up and how they react to what the oline is doing.  As far as I can tell, it's a combination of scheme and the players going all in, even CB's.

[Adb6368]

Derek brown may, in fact, have been the very best draft pick we could have made last year. AND

dejuan Jones may be the most underrated FA signing we’ve had in a long long time 

[kungfoodude]

But, but.....I was told the Super Bowl LVI champion Dallas Cowboys were unstoppable and the "worst 3-0 NFL team in history" had no shot.

[L-TownCat]

53 minutes ago, @bonafidebanter said:

I'm looking for Dallas to run a lot of 12 personnel. They tend to spread you out and go empty with it. 

Then holy smokes were gonna gave 8 sacks. 

[Leeroy Jenkins Ph.D.]

47 minutes ago, Khyber53 said:

Any thoughts on how we're able to shut down the running game? Is it the d-line (I've seen Burns and Reddick very involved in run D rather than just existing as pass rush specialists), is Brown that good at clogging up the middle? Are our LBs playing like the second coming of the Three Horsemen (Luke, Davis and Thompson)? Big support from DBs and safeties?

Or is it just an overall explosion of motivation? The entire defense seems to take this personal that they will own the field. There are so many of them in on every tackle, very little standing around and being out of place. Playing with drive and desire.

Dang, this iteration of the Panthers has been long awaited!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G0AT1ykLzxQ&t=18s

[Wes21]

I wanted Derrick Brown because a guy like him changes everything.  There is a domino effect with a guy like that.

[SBBlue]

Great OP.

Edited October 2, 2021 by SBBlue