How can they do it? We continue to play with five defensive backs on the field to make it more difficult for Bryce Young to find a receiver. The Cowboys have played defense in nickel on 82.3% of their snaps since Week 9, the third-highest rate in the league. They also played in man coverage on 52.2% of their snaps last week against Cincinnati, the first time they exceeded the 50% mark this season. Against man coverage, Young has completed just 48.5% of his passes with five touchdowns and four interceptions.

They will also need some help from their pass rush to disrupt Young and take him out of the game. Carolina’s offensive line has been solid, with Young only being sacked eight times since returning as a starter in Week 8, but Dallas’ pass rush has improved significantly. Since Micah Parsons returned in Week 10, they have the fifth-highest pressure rate (39.2%) and 10th-highest pressure-to-sack conversion rate (23.1%) in the league. The formula is simple: Make Young uncomfortable and let your playmaking trio in the secondary do the rest.

2. Can Dowdle outperform Hubbard on the ground?

Given the way the Cowboys running game started offensively this season, you might never have imagined that this matchup would feature two of the NFL’s hottest running backs. Chuba Hubbard has handled the majority of the workload for Carolina on the ground and will continue to do so with Jonathan Brooks out for the remainder of the season.

Similarly, Dallas has regained its lead in Rico Dowdle, who has carried the ball 40 times in the last two games for a league-best 243 yards and a touchdown. After failing to generate more than 10 rushing yards above expectations in the first 10 games of the season, he posted at least 40 rushing yards above expectations against the Giants and Bengals.

Both Dowdle and Hubbard have a chance to make a big splash on Sunday as the Panthers and Cowboys are ranked 31st^st and 32^nd Run each defense in the league.

The team that has a better rushing performance on offense will have a big lead in this game. And this aspect is likely to be decided.

Dowdle (51.4%) and Hubbard (49%) have the first and second best rushing success rates in the second half of games this season, and whichever of them can take advantage of a potentially weakened defense will likely be the game-winning team.