Dak Prescott threw for two touchdowns and the Dallas Cowboys benefitted from two scores in a 10-second span early in the fourth quarter to defeat the Carolina Panthers 33-10 on Sunday afternoon at Charlotte, N.C.

Tony Pollard ran for a touchdown and finished with 61 rushing yards on 12 carries as Dallas (7-3) won for the fourth time its last five games.

The Panthers (1-9) threatened to make it interesting, pulling to within 17-10, before Pollard’s 21-yard touchdown run with 13:58 left. On Carolina’s next snap, DaRon Bland intercepted Bryce Young and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown.

Opponents have returned three interceptions for touchdowns in Carolina’s last two home games.

Prescott finished 25 of 38 for 189 yards.

Young, the overall first-round draft choice in the spring, was 16 of 29 for 123 yards with a touchdown. Adam Thielen had eight catches for 74 yards to deliver a healthy chunk of Carolina’s 187 yards of total offense.

The Panthers pulled within 17-10 with a 17-play drive that consumed nearly nine minutes. It ended on Young’s 4-yard pass to Tommy Tremble with 1:59 left in the third quarter. Carolina’s drive benefitted from a Dallas penalty for running into the punter and three fourth-down conversions.

Dallas went up in the first quarter on Prescott’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Luke Schoonmaker.

The Cowboys then put together a 12-play drive – aided by a defensive pass interference penalty and horse-collar tackle infraction on the Panthers — that resulted in Brandon Aubrey’s 30-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter.

The Panthers had a pair of 10-play possessions in the first half, although those produced 41 and 50 yards, respectively. The second of those resulted in Eddy Pineiro’s 42-yard field goal with 1:56 left in the half.

But the Cowboys moved quickly and grabbed at 17-3 with 24 seconds remaining in the half on Prescott’s 5-yard toss to CeeDee Lamb.

Prescott threw 27 passes in the first half.

–Field Level Media

There are increasing signs that the Dallas Cowboys have put their offense in good order.

That’s far from the case for the Carolina Panthers.

The Cowboys will try to keep it going when they face the Panthers on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte.

Dallas (6-3) has won three of its last four games, with the offense a big part of that success. The Panthers (1-8) have the worst record in the NFL.

The Cowboys are the lone team in the NFL this season who have reached the 40-point level in three different games.

“This past month, we’re hitting on all cylinders,” Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott might be hitting another level. He threw for 404 yards last weekend against the New York Giants, giving him three consecutive games above the 300-yard mark.

Dallas receivers CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks both eclipsed the 150-yard receiving mark last week, and the Cowboys ran for 168 yards.

“We’re getting through the run schemes that are able to carry over into the actual pass game,” McCarthy said. “We’re doing a lot more (on) third down. I do think it’s a product of us hitting our stride.”

Lamb is the first player in NFL history with three straight games of double-figure catches and 150-plus receiving yards.

“I don’t even want to call it a streak because that’s just who he is,” Prescott said.

Looking ahead to dealing with the Cowboys’ passing attack, the Panthers hope they might be able to get linebacker Brian Burns (concussion) and cornerback Jaycee Horn (hamstring) back in action after both were on the practice field Wednesday. Horn has been out since the opener, and he was designated to return from injured reserve this week.

Carolina’s offense, meanwhile, remains in flux. The Panthers had extra time since their Thursday, Nov. 9, loss at Chicago, bringing suggestions that changes could be in the works. Those are mostly related to a low-producing offense.

On Wednesday, coach Frank Reich said he is taking back play-calling duties from Thomas Brown, who replaced Reich in that role several weeks ago.

“It’s not about Thomas. It’s about me, the team,” Reich said. “I just think it’s the right thing to do. Whoever has done the play-calling, we haven’t performed as an offense.”

The Cowboys are a strong pass-rushing team, so expect to see them work hard to disrupt rookie Carolina quarterback Bryce Young.

Alleviating pressure on Young is one of the Panthers’ priorities. More production from the rushing attack would help, but don’t expect an overhaul in philosophy.

“Do we want to be smashmouth football, under center, power?” Reich said. “No, that’s not who we’re trying to be.”

Changes along the offensive line have come this week. Carolina released Calvin Throckmorton, who had started the previous seven games. It’s possible that rookie Chandler Zavala could be inserted as the starting left guard. The Panthers filled Throckmorton’s roster spot by re-signing David Sharpe.

The tight end position is in flux for Carolina, with Ian Thomas (calf) designated to return from IR but Hayden Hurst in the concussion protocol.

Dallas is 10-3 all-time against Carolina in regular-season games, including a 36-28 home victory in 2021.

–Field Level Media