Cowboys at Panthers

Coach Bill Parcell's Dallas Cowboys built a strong pass D in his first season in Texas. One of the key 2003 passing efficiency stats is passing first downs allowed, Coach Parcell's D team only allows opponents to move the sticks on 26.8% of their pass attempts (league's strongest). On this key passing efficiency stat, the Cowboys have a big 6-point advantage over the Carolina Panthers' offense.

Op Pct 1st Dns Pass/Att Dallas Cowboys 2003 through Week 17

But the Panthers' Pass D is also strong (and got stonger in the season's second half), allowing only 30.8% of all opponent tosses to earn a first down in the air.

Op Pct 1st Dns Pass/Att Carolina Panthers 2003 through Week 17

Get ready for this: After the playoffs are over and all of the data is in for the season, this Percent First Downs Passing stat may become the new Killer Stat of the year.

So in the playoffs watch the winners stop the short stuff.

It's the key to the modern game.

While the electronic hardware favours the Panthers by only 1 1/2 points, they get there with the help of the home field advantage. At a neutral sight the Cowboys hold a small edge.

Great, tight, close game.

Bud Goode and Bill Sanders

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