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Carolina Panthers vs Dallas Cowboys December 15th 2024
With the Panthers favored at -129 on the money line, the Cowboys and Panthers will face off on Sunday, December 15th at 1:00 ET on FOX. The Panthers are at home at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. The point spread is -2 in favor of the Panthers, and the over/under line is at 43.5 points. The Panthers and Cowboys both need to add their records.
Dallas vs. Carolina Key Information
- Teams: Cowboys at Panthers
- Where: Bank of America Stadium Charlotte
- Date: Sunday, December 15th
- Betting Odds CAR -129 | DAL +108 O/U 43.5
The Cowboys Can Win If…
Heading into week 15, the Cowboys sit 30th in our power rankings and have just a 0.2% chance of making the playoffs. Dallas is 5-8 overall and 3-1 in divisional games, which puts them 3rd in the NFC East. They are 4-2 on the road but just 1-6 at home.
After two straight wins, the Cowboys couldn’t keep it going in week 14, losing 27-20 to the Bengals. They were 4.5-point underdogs at home and couldn’t cover, dropping their ATS record to 4-9. Their O/U record is 8-5 this season, with their games averaging 48.8 points.
Heading into week 15, the Cowboys rank 19th in the NFL in points per game, averaging 20.6, and are 20th in total yards per game with 322.6. They have been pass-heavy, ranking 2nd in passing attempts, leading to 231.4 passing yards per game, which ranks 10th. On the ground, Dallas ranks 25th in rushing attempts and 28th in rushing yards per game. They are 24th in the NFL in 3rd-down conversion percentage but 5th in red-zone conversion percentage.
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Cooper Rush threw for 183 yards and 2 touchdowns in week 14, with a passer rating of 77. Rico Dowdle rushed for 131 yards on 18 carries, and CeeDee Lamb had 6 catches for 93 yards and a touchdown. Dallas scored 7 points in the 1st and 3rd quarters against the Bengals but only managed 3 points in the 2nd and 4th quarters.
In their 27-20 loss to the Bengals, the Cowboys’ defense allowed 433 total yards. They struggled against the pass, giving up 359 yards through the air, with the Bengals averaging 8.2 yards per attempt and completing 75% of their passes. Despite allowing just 19 rushing attempts, Dallas gave up 74 yards on the ground.
The Cowboys’ defense managed two sacks and one interception, but they allowed three passing touchdowns. Cincinnati converted on 40% of their third down attempts.
- Dallas will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 2-1 over their past three games. Their strong play has also resulted in an ATS mark of 2-1 (last 3). They had an over/under mark of 2-1 in those same games.
- Dallas has put together a record of 4-6 in their last ten games (regular season). In these contests, the team went just 3-7 against the spread, while going 5-5 on the over-under.
The Panthers Can Win If…
With a 3-10 record, the Panthers sit 32nd in our power rankings and have a 0.0% chance of making the playoffs. Carolina has dropped three straight games, including a 22-16 loss to the Eagles in week 14. However, they managed to cover the spread as 14-point underdogs. Before that, they narrowly lost to the Bucs and Chiefs but covered the spread in both matchups.
Despite being underdogs in every game, the Panthers are 6-7 against the spread and have covered in five straight. Their O/U record is 9-4, with their games averaging 47.8 points compared to a 43.2-point line.
Heading into week 15, the Panthers rank 26th in our offensive power rankings, averaging 17.9 points per game, which is also 26th in the NFL. They are 30th in yards per game (293.1) and 25th in third-down conversion rate (35.2%). Carolina ranks 14th in red zone attempts and 10th in red zone conversion percentage, with 37.8%.
Bryce Young threw for 191 yards (19/34) and a touchdown in week 14, with one interception. Chuba Hubbard had 92 rushing yards on 26 carries, and Adam Thielen had 9 receptions for 102 yards. Carolina scored 6 points in the 3rd quarter but were shut out in the 4th.
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In their 22-16 loss to the Eagles, the Panthers’ defense struggled to stop the run, giving up 209 rushing yards on just 31 attempts. Despite this, they held Philadelphia to only 83 yards passing on 14 completions. Carolina’s defense recorded four sacks and held the Eagles to a 41.7% third-down conversion rate, but they still allowed two passing touchdowns.
Carolina’s defense had problems on third downs, allowing the Eagles to convert 58.3% of their third down attempts. The Panthers’ inability to stop the run led to a tough day for the defense, as the Eagles controlled the clock and kept the ball moving on the ground.
- Across Carolina’s last three regular season games, their record sits at 1-2. Against the spread, they have a strong mark of 3-0 along with an over-under record of 2-1.
- The Panthers have gone 3-7 over their last ten regular season games. Their record against the spread in this stretch is 6-4 to go along with an over-under mark of 6-4.
The Lean
Our pick against the spread is to take the Cowboys to cover as road underdogs in this week 15 matchup between the Cowboys and Panthers. The point spread lines have the Cowboys as 2-point favorites, and we have them winning 23-21, making them a good pick vs. the spread.
For the over/under, with the line sitting at 43.5 points, we like the over, with our projections pointing to a combined score of 44 points.
Panthers Ready to Embrace Rare Favorite Role Against Cowboys
The Carolina Panthers (3-10) are stepping into uncharted territory this Sunday as they host the Dallas Cowboys (5-8) in Charlotte. For the first time in nearly a year, the Panthers are favorites, a role that highlights the Cowboys’ struggles and Carolina’s close calls in recent games.
Panthers’ Push for Progress
Despite a disappointing record, the Panthers have been competitive in recent weeks, losing by slim margins to the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Philadelphia Eagles. First-year head coach Dave Canales remains focused on his team’s growth.
“Vegas is very good with the odds,” Canales said. “The motivation for us and the story all along is: Can we find our best?”
The team’s ability to compete closely with playoff-caliber opponents has shown promise, but Canales stressed the importance of turning progress into victories.
“Finishing is in the details,” he said. “We see progress, but the goal is to win these games. I know the best is still out there for us.”
Rookie quarterback Bryce Young has shown flashes of growth, going three consecutive games without an interception before throwing one last week. His consistency and poise will be crucial in a matchup against a Dallas defense anchored by star linebacker Micah Parsons.
Cowboys Facing Urgency
The Cowboys enter the game on the heels of a 27-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night, a result that significantly hurt their fading playoff hopes. With little time to dwell on the loss, Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy emphasized the importance of focusing on Carolina.
“We need to beat Carolina,” McCarthy said. “You play Monday night, there’s not a whole lot of time to spend on (the previous) game, regardless of the outcome.”
Dallas will once again rely on backup quarterback Cooper Rush with Dak Prescott sidelined. Rush has been inconsistent, failing to surpass 200 passing yards in the past two games. However, the Cowboys’ offense has leaned on the running game, with Rico Dowdle posting consecutive 100-yard performances.
Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb remains a bright spot, ranking third in the NFL with 973 receiving yards. His ability to stretch the field could be a difference-maker against a Panthers secondary that might be without Jaycee Horn (groin).
Stay ahead of the game with insights from our winning strategies guide.
Key Matchups to Watch
- Micah Parsons vs. Bryce Young
Parsons’ disruptive presence will test Carolina’s offensive line and Young’s ability to make quick decisions. Parsons tallied 2.5 sacks in last year’s blowout win over the Panthers. - Rico Dowdle vs. Panthers Run Defense
The Cowboys’ recent ground success with Dowdle will clash with a Carolina defense that has struggled against the run. - CeeDee Lamb vs. Carolina Secondary
Lamb’s ability to dominate in open space presents a significant challenge for the Panthers, especially if Horn is unavailable.
Injury Report
- Panthers:
- RB Raheem Blackshear (chest) missed Wednesday’s practice.
- CB Jaycee Horn (groin) is a game-time decision.
- Cowboys:
- LB DeMarvion Overshown (knee) is out for the season.
- C Cooper Beebe (concussion) did not practice Wednesday.
Historical Context
The Cowboys have dominated the all-time series, holding an 11-3 record, including 6-1 in Charlotte. However, the Panthers won both playoff meetings between the teams, after the 1996 and 2003 seasons.
Prediction
The Panthers’ improved competitiveness and home-field advantage give them a real shot at breaking their three-game skid. However, the Cowboys’ potent weapons in Lamb and Parsons, coupled with their stronger running game, might prove too much for Carolina to handle.
