Here we go my friends Season is about to Kick Off ! Lets take a look at the week 1 matchup:
Cowboys Lead the Overall Series 9-4 But have been beaten both times they met in the playoffs and the Boys got smashed the last time they met in 2015 @ Home 33-14 where Luke Keuchly dominated.
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Honestly these 2 teams are so much alike it is scary and should make for a who wants it more on opening day!!!!! Check this out -
Lets Start with Suspension :
Thomas Davis - Suspended 4 games HUGE Loss for the Panthers IMO Classy Guy Honestly I like Thomas Davis (He is a Beast) Break for Us !
David Irving - Suspended 4 games --- He is a Beast But also a Little of a Bonehead but this suspension is good for Carolina
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Key Injuries:
Travis Frederick -- Huge Loss for us
Matt Kalil & Darryl Williams - Huge Loss for the Panthers There O-line is hurting really bad right now !
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A Look Back:
2017 Final Stats:
Offensive Final Stats PPG
12th Ranked Panthers - 22.7 PPG
14th Ranked Cowboys - 22.1 PPG
Passing Yards Per Game:
26th Ranked - Cowboys - 196.3 YPG - 6.7 Per Play - 22 Td's - 13 Interceptions - Both teams had down years at receiver Dez led league in drops
28th Ranked - Panthers - 192.3 YPG - 6.6 Per Play - 22 Td's - 16 Interceptions - Olsen missed like the whole year for injury
Rushing Yards Per Game:
2nd Ranked - 135.6 YPG - 4.5 Avg - 18 Td's ---- Zeke missing 6 Games and Morris Carrying the Load WOW
4th Ranked - 131.4 YPG - 4.3 Avg - 15 Td's ----- Cam and Stewart - had about the same yards Cam led the team
Overall Opinion - Cam is a little less accurate then Dak but runs far more then Dak - these 2 are more alike on the field stats wise - Dak takes less chances and is more careful !!!!! DAK Dresses Better Also HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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Defensive Final Stats PPG
11th Ranked Panthers - 20.4 PPG
13th Ranked Cowboys - 20.8 PPG
Passing Defense YPG
11th Ranked Cowboys - 214.YPG - Gave Up 28 TD's - Got 10 Interceptions - 38 Sacks - 94.6 Passer Rating
18th Ranked Panthers - 229.1 YPG - Gave Up 25 TD's - Got 10 Interceptions - 50 Sacks - 92.9 Passer Rating
Both teams get after the QB ! With us missing Frederick and them missing 2 Kalil and Williams this is going to be the Key area for both teams to take advantage ------ We have a bid Advantage here IMO
Rushing Defense YPG
3rd Ranked Panthers - 88.1 YPG - 4.0 Avg - 7 TD's - 1 Fumble
8th Ranked Cowboys - 104.0 YPG - 4.1 YPG - 7 TD's - 6 Fumbles
Keuchly is a monster and is the key to there ranking missing Davis could hurt but the have shaq thompson and a good D-Line -- This will be smash mouth football at its finest.
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Key Player Breakdowns:
Luke Kuechly - Heart and Soul Of Panthers D
125 Tackles - 1.5 sacks - 9 pass defensed - 3 Int - 1 FF - 2 Fumbles Recovered - 1 TD
Sean Lee - Heart and Soul of Cowboys D
101 Tackles - 0 Sacks - 2 Pass defensed - 1 Int - 0 FF- 0 Fombles Recovered - 0 TD's
Dak
308 - 490 --- 62.9 Completion Percentage - 30.6 passes per game - 6.8 YPP - 32 Sacks
Cam
291 - 492 --- 59.1 Completion Percentage - 30.8 Passes per Game - 6.7 YPP 35 Sacks - CAM IS MORE DINK AND DUNK LOL Had to throw that in
INT Leaders:
Jeff Heath - 3 Cowboys
Keuchly - 3 Panthers
FF
Lawrence - 4 Cowboys
Horton - 3 Panthers
Sacks:
Cowboys:
Lawrence - 14.5
Irving- 7.5 - Suspended
Panthers:
Addison - 11 Sacks
Peppers - 11 Sacks
Short - 7.5 Sacks
Poe - 2.5 Sacks in ATL
They have the D-line Advantage Now - we really need Gregory to have a game and take advantage of there thin O-Line
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Rushing
10th Ranked Zeke - 983 yards missed 6 games
22th Ranked CAM - 754 yards led the Panthers
26th RANKED Stewart - 680 Yards
37th Morris 547 Yards - No Longer Here
Love Smith on our team he is going to be a beast to Spell Zeke ---- I personally don't think the Panthers like the fact Cam leads the team in rushing but that is his game ----
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Receiving YPG
27th Ranked Funchess - 63 REC - 840 Yards - 8 TD's Panthers
28th Ranked Bryant - 69 REC - 838 Yards - 6 TD's Cowboys - Now he is Gone
57th Ranked McCaffrey - 80 REC - 651 Yards - 5 TD's Panthers ---- Zeke needs to have something similar this year would be nice
68th Ranked Williams - 53 REC - 568 Yards - 0 TD's Cowboys
71th Ranked Witten - 63 REC - 560 Yards - 5 TD's Cowboys He is Gone
101st Ranked Hurns ( Jacksonville ) - 39 REC 484 Yards - 2 TD's Cowboys
Panthers also get back Olsen - 2016 Stats - 80 REC 1073 Yards 3 TD's
Cowboys are gonna have to bring it at Receiver this will be a trend for sure all year--
Panthers have a solid core and they get back Olsen! Cam is comfortable with Funchess, Olsen, and McCaffrey now they add DJ Moore who was on the Cowboys radar they could have scary unit !
Rookies To Watch For:
Pre-Season Stats
Gallup - 4 REC - 75 Yards - 1TD
Dj Moore - 4 REC 75 Yards - 0 TD
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I am sure there will be players added before Sunday on both sides !
IMO this game is going to be a hard hitting close game and the trenches are gonna be a war on both sides. Our receiving Corp will need to get open fast because the Panthers bring the heat from multiple positions - i expect Zeke to get some screens and that combined with austin hopefully give the Panthers D pause with all the speed options we possess.
Very interested to see how the Boys work in Rico or if they do !
On D our Revamped Secondary looks pretty good and i am confident we are headed in the right direction: Both Teams are not exactly shining at Safety so that is concern on both sides. With out talent at Linebacker ( hopefully LVE plays ) Smith is back and has been a beast we should be good against the run. They are missing Davis which is a plus for us him and Keuchly together is a dynamic duo for sure.
Cowboys rested a lot of players during pre-season so it will be interesting to see if there is a hangover week one versus a very good D!
But looking at all of this it is scary how similar these teams actually are !
To early for a score prediction yet But wanted to share my thoughts what say you !
