5 big talking points from Carolina Panthers’ loss at the Cowboys in Week 4

Carolina Panthers were facing two teams

Don’t let this next segment take away from how badly the Carolina Panthers played on defense. However, they were up against two teams tonight.

One in white, and one in black and white.

In the first half especially, some of the calls we saw from the officials were frankly embarrassing. Multiple holds were missed, there was a questionable pass interference call, and a missed offensive pass interference springs to mind.

The most glaring, however, came on a single drive in the second quarter.

When Dak Prescott hit his tight end, Dalton Schultz, for a check-down he was met with a booming hit by Panthers safety Jeremy Chinn jarring the ball loose and leading to a Carolina recovery.

Inexplicably forward progress was somehow called, negating the fumble and as the play couldn’t be reviewed, the Dallas Cowboys kept the ball with a chance to take the lead.

Later in the drive, the Panthers had Dallas at fourth-and-two. The Cowboys’ offense stayed on the field, some good downfield man coverage left Prescott with no options, and as he scrambled for a first down, the refs somehow missed Morgan Fox being bear-hugged to open the lane and eventually a touchdown to Schultz.

Now no one knows what would have happened if these decisions were called correctly. However, this turnover may have given Carolina the momentum it needed on defense.