This year’s Dallas Cowboys are a daunting matchup for any team, let alone the struggling Carolina Panthers. But for head coach Frank Reich, it’s another great opportunity.
Reich spoke with reporters to begin Week 11, which ends with a visit from one of the league’s most talented and productive rosters. When asked if facing a red-hot opponent alters the usual approach of the team, he offered an honest outlook.
“What changes is, the matchups change and the schemes change that you’re goin’ against,” Reich replied. “From that aspect, it changes in how we game-plan and approach. I would think if you talk to most of the players, they might not admit it—but when you’re going up against a hot team, it’s an opportunity. Things have not been goin’ well for us as a team. So, it’s an opportunity. It’s a great opportunity to go up and prove that we’re a good football team.”
That “good football team” currently sits at 1-8 and is coming off an embarrassing Thursday night loss to the Chicago Bears. Loss No. 8 saw the Panthers average all 3.7 yards per play and reach the end zone just once—on a 79-yard punt return.
Dallas, on the other hand, just stomped their second mud hole of the year into their division rival New York Giants. Their sixth victory of the campaign, a 49-17 romp, was headlined by a 468-yard difference in output—the largest total in the NFL over the last 44 years.
Nonetheless, the Panthers have tasted triumph against a winning team from Texas this season—and they’re hoping to eat a similar dish on Sunday.
“We beat one good football team, we need to beat another good football team,” Reich added. “So, we’ll all get ready to play a good one this week. This team is hot. They have a lot of firepower on offense. They have some big-time playmakers on defense. They’re good in all three phases. They’re a well-coached team and they got a lot of a firepower. So, it’s a great challenge for us and I think our coaching staff and our players are excited for that.”
