CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Dak Prescott is sizzling, and the Dallas Cowboys are winning the games they should win while eyeing a playoff run.
The Carolina Panthers are heading toward a sixth consecutive losing season.
The NFC foes are heading in opposite directions and will clash today in what is expected to feel like a home game for the Cowboys (6-3), even though it will be played at Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium.
Since Week 8, Prescott leads the NFL with 1,082 passing yards and 11 touchdown passes and ranks second with a 129.4 rating. He has recorded at least 300 yards passing and three touchdown passes in each of Dallas' last three games, one shy of matching a record shared by Peyton Manning, Steve Young and Patrick Mahomes.
Prescott is coming off a 404-yard, four-TD performance against the Giants.
"They are hot on offense," Panthers Coach Frank Reich said. "Dak is extremely effective in the pocket and out of the pocket. Obviously CeeDee Lamb is a big-time playmaker and they are having success running and throwing it."
Still, there will always be some doubt about the Cowboys until they're able to beat the league's top teams, including NFC East rival Philadelphia, which currently leads the division.
The Cowboys know that, and they're focused on taking care of winnable games against Carolina, Washington and Seattle before their Dec. 10 rematch with the Eagles at home.
"I feel like we've had games where we've blown teams out that we should blown out," said Cowboys safety Jayron Kearse. "When it comes down us doing what we say we want to do, you know it's going to come down to those big games, those San Fran games, those Philly games, Miami, the Bills and those type of games. To where we put together a complete game, and that shows who you are as a team."
According to Next Gen Stats, Prescott's 136.1 passer rating against man-to-man coverage is the league's best, ahead of Mahomes (121.0).
"He's all football. This guy, he loves everything about it. The training," Cowboys Coach Mike McCarthy said. "When you look at this game, Sundays are really for free. What he does Monday through Saturday is so impressive."
OUT LIKE A TIGER
Lamb leads the NFL with 617 yards receiving over the last four games.
He has recorded at least 10 receptions and 150 receiving yards in each of his last three games, becoming the first player in NFL history to reach those marks. Lamb can become the first player ever to record at least 150 receiving yards in four consecutive games.
He can also become the second player with at least 10 catches in four consecutive games, joining Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson.
ON THE CALL
In hopes of giving his team a spark, Reich is taking back the offensive play-calling duties.
Reich delegated play-calling on Oct. 16 before Carolina's bye week. The Panthers (1-8) went 1-2 with offensive coordinator Thomas Brown calling plays, but the team scored only two offensive touchdowns during that span.
Reich called plays for the first six games of the season, all Carolina losses.
However, the Panthers went from averaging 294.7 yards, 20.7 first downs and 16.3 points per game in six games with Reich calling plays to 237.3 yards, 16.3 first downs and 11.3 points per game in three games with Brown calling the shots.
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle (23) carries in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (18) is hit by New York Giants linebacker Micah McFadden (41) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Giants safety Bobby McCain (21) breaks up a pass intended for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks, right, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich speaks during a press conference after his team's loss to the Chicago Bears after an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (6) is tackled by Chicago Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette (11) celebrates after returning a punt for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) throws under pressure from Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat (98) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)