OT PICK SINKS PANTHERS
Cowboys hang on, Panthers knocked out of playoffs
By Ashley Barnett
“Really proud of the season we had. We accomplished a lot. Of course you want to keep playing, you want to be in the playoffs.” Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said following an overtime loss in Dallas that knocked them out of the playoffs.
Carolina's first possession came to an end when Curtis Samuel fumbled the ball away.
CURTIS SAMUEL COUGHS UP THE BALL, KILLING AN EARLY DRIVE FOR THE PANTHERS
After the turnover Dallas scored first on a 45 yard Dak Prescott to Ezekiel Elliott pass. Rookie Kicker Brett Cimaglia missed the point after.
Late in the first quarter Colby Porter Jr connected with receiver Olamide Zaccheaus for a 42 yard score. Zaccheaus stretched and made the catch one handed then outran Dallas defenders for the score.
OLAMIDE ZACCHEAUS SECURES A PASS FROM FORMER UVA TEAMMATE COLBY PORTER JR
ZACCHEAUS TAKES IT TO THE HOUSE FOR A 42 YARD FIRST QUARTER SCORE
PORTER JR DELIVERS A PASS
JEUDY FIGHTS FOR EXTRA YARDAGE
After an early second quarter Cimaglia field goal put Dallas up 9-7 the Panthers scored on an 18 yard Porter Jr to Zaccheaus screen pass, putting the Panthers back on top 14-9.
ZACCHEAUS SCORES ON A SCREEN PASS IN THE 2ND QUARTER
Dallas went back on top via a Prescott to Wallace 63 yard TD pass a minute later.
QB/RB/FB/WR/TE TAYSOM HILL BREAKS A TACKLE
PORTER JR RUNS FOR A FIRST DOWN
Witherspoon hit a 47 yard field goal a few minutes later and Dallas added a 1 yard Prescott to Gallup touchdown before halftime, taking a 23-17 lead into the break.
Jonathan Taylor scored on a 14 yard run to put up the only points of the third quarter, giving Carolina a 24-23 lead going into the final period.
TAYLOR SCORES IN THE 3RD QUARTER, PUTTING CAROLINA ON TOP
HILL LEAPS A PAIR OF COWBOYS DEFENDERS TO PICK UP A FIRST DOWN
PORTER JR PICKS UP A CHUNK OF YARDS WITH HIS LEGS
Midway through the fourth quarter the Panthers extended their lead when Porter Jr threw his third touchdown pass of the day, a 46 yard strike to Taysom Hill. Witherspoon made it 31-23 with the point after.
HILL SCORES ON A 46 YARD PASS FROM PORTER JR IN THE 4TH
Prescott threw his fourth touchdown of the game a few minutes later, connecting with Brate for a three yard score with four minutes left in the game. Dallas tied it up with a two point conversion.
DJ MOORE PICKS UP A FIRST DOWN IN THE FOURTH QUARTER
Rhule elected to go for it on fourth and goal late, concerned that Prescott and the Dallas offense would have ample time to get into field goal range to tie or even score a touchdown and win. Leighton Vander Esch came free through the A gap and forced Porter Jr to throw the ball away.
PORTER JR TAKES A BIG HIT FROM VANDER ESCH
Carolina's defense held and forced overtime. Dallas got the ball first and came away with a 36 yard Cimaglia field goal.
PORTER JR RUNS FOR A BIG GAIN IN OVERTIME
Porter Jr and the offense drove into the redzone and were looking to score when Porter Jr was pressured on a throw into the endzone and couldn't step into it, leading to an interception by Ambry Thomas that ended the game.
PORTER JR IS PRESSURED ON HIS FINAL THROW, MAKING HIM UNABLE TO STEP INTO IT
RESULTING IN A GAME ENDING INTERCEPTION BY AMBRY THOMAS
“Tough way to go out like that.” Porter Jr, who threw for 388 yards and three touchdowns on 28 of 38 passing, lamented after the loss.
Dak Prescott threw for 349 yards and four scores on 28 of 40 passing.
Porter Jr led all rushers with 122 yards on eight carries, Elliott picked up 72 yards on 18 carries for the Cowboys.
McCaffrey gained 56 yards on 20 carries and Taylor picked up 18 yards and a score on his four carries.
Taysom Hill was the top receiver for the Panthers in terms of yardage gained, he picked up 90 yards and a score on five receptions. Curtis Samuel picked up 64 yards on seven receptions, McCaffrey also had seven receptions for 61 yards. Zaccheaus caught two passes for 60 yards, both for touchdowns.
Dallas' Tylan Wallace led all receivers with 141 yards and a score on seven receptions. Elliott went for 90 yards and a score on five receptions and Brate had 78 yards and a score on ten catches.
Shaq Thompson (12) and Vander Esch (11) led their teams in tackles. Demarcus Lawrence tallied two sacks, Vander Esch and Robert Quinn each added one as well. Kawann Short sacked Prescott once.
Porter Jr's 510 total yards of offense was enough to secure the NFC offensive player of the week award. Vander Esch won the defensive honor.
The Panthers lose out on the last playoff spot in the NFC, finishing behind Washington after a tie breaker. Dallas, at 12-3-1, secures the #1 seed.