AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth
The Carolina Panthers (3-0) are set to put their undefeated record to the test against the 2-1 Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, a big test for the upstart Panthers.
And head coach Matt Rhule hasn’t been withholding in his praise of opposing quarterback Dak Prescott:
Jon Machota @jonmachota
Panthers coach Matt Rhule on Dak Prescott: “It’s like watching Peyton Manning, it’s like watching Drew Brees call the game at the line of scrimmage. I think what Dak’s doing right now is unbelievably impressive.” pic.twitter.com/dMX0jb1n3c
The numbers back up Rhule’s assessment. Through three games, he’s thrown for 828 yards, six touchdowns and just two interceptions, completing an absurd 77.5 percent of his passes. Translated to a full 17-game season, that comes out to 4,692 passing yards, 34 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Hardly shabby numbers. And a major test for a Carolina defense that has started the year on fire.
To this point, the Panthers are giving up the fewest yards in football (191 per game) and the second-fewest points (10). Starting off the season with the New York Jets and Houston Texans in the first three weeks has helped.
What they haven’t done is force a ton of turnovers, however, with just three. Contrast that to the Cowboys, who lead the NFL in takeaways (eight) and are tied with the New Orleans Saints atop the NFL in turnover differential ( 5).
Getting the ball away from Prescott and the Cowboys won’t be any easier. But the turnover battle will be one of the key factors in a game between two of the better teams in the NFC to this point.
The Panthers will potentially have some additional help at cornerback after acquiring CJ Henderson from the Jacksonville Jaguars in a trade. Rhule told reporters Henderson would “probably start in a limited role.”
“And I’m not sure if that’s this week or not, to be honest with you,” he continued. “We’ll watch the tape and see what he’s ready for. The guys that have been practicing and preparing with us for a while, those are the guys we trust to go win the game. And we’ll bring C.J. along, and whenever he’s ready to help us, he’ll help us.”
Getting thrown onto the field for a new team against Prescott would be a tall task. But with rookie cornerback Jaycee Horn on injured reserve with a broken foot, Henderson will see the field soon enough.
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