Week 6 sends the Dallas Cowboys on the road to face the Carolina Panthers in a high-urgency showdown marked by pregame skirmishes and a charged mood around Dallas’ defense. Former Cowboy Rico Dowdle sparked chatter with calls for the unit to buckle up, while Dallas’ defense aims to set a physical tone from the outset after a tense pregame. Carolina opened with a field goal following a solid first drive, and Dallas leaned into a bend-don’t-break approach as four starters were listed out in the final injury report, testing depth and inviting opportunistic play on both sides.

The Cowboys head to New York short-handed on the line, with four starting blockers out or limited. Adeniji starts at left guard while Smith is held for emergency duty, Guyton is out, and Beebe and Booker are sidelined. Hoffman and Bass lock the interior as Thomas starts at left tackle, underscoring Dallas depth and a focus on communication to protect Dak Prescott and power the run game.

New York’s front led by Williams tests the reshuffled unit, so Dallas must stay physical at the point of attack and execute with discipline. The game hinges on how well the depth players mesh, the efficiency of pre‑snap calls, and the ability to keep Prescott clean while pushing the Jets on the ground.