Your Dallas Cowboys entered Sunday's contest against the undefeated Carolina Panthers in a bit of "prove it" mode. Yes, the Cowboys had booked three well-played games and were coming off a thorough dismantling of division rival Philadelphia. But they were still only 2-1 and with a undefeated opponent coming to Cowboys Stadium (again, I refuse to call it whatever the official corporately purchased name is) a slip up would quickly render that solid start meaningless. If the Cowboys wanted to put their name in the "contenders" column they needed to record another victory and that's exactly what they did.

Like most of their games thus far in the 2021 campaign there was some outstanding (an offense that looks as balanced and dynamic as any in the league), some surprisingly good (a defense that continues to make big plays and generate turnovers) and some bad (a defense that, when not generating turnovers struggles to get off the field).

You could say the same for pretty much every game this season. An elite offensive unit joined with a spotty but opportunistic defense is what we've seen four times and, frankly, looks like a formula that can hold up against most opponents. Let's go to the grades.

Overall: B+

With 2:17 remaining in the 3rd quarter the Cowboys were up 36 - 14. Had the game ended there this would easily be an A grade. But the Cowboys seemed to act like the game was over and promptly got steamrolled in the 4th quarter and faced some tension as the Panthers crawled within a single score with over 2 minutes remaining. The Dallas offense was forced to record multiple first downs in order to run out the clock but they were up to the task, finishing the game on a play when both Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard touched the ball.

Make no mistake, though, this game was won in an exhilarating 12 minutes of football the likes of which Cowboys' fans have not witnessed in eons. Dallas trailed 14 - 13 at halftime; the Panthers received the second half kick-off and embarked on a 49 yard drive. Matt Rhule opted to attempt a 54-yard field goal attempt that missed to the left, handing Dallas the ball at their own 44.

Your Cowboys then put on a breathtaking display of football dominance that should excite fans and serve as goal for what this team can accomplish. Dallas would score 24 points on four drives while the defense would record two turnovers and force a 3-and-out. The stats for this period of the game are mind-boggling:

Dallas had as many points as the Panthers did yards. Dallas average nearly 16 yards per play while surrendering less than 2 yards per play, while also taking the ball away twice. Consider the sheer number of big plays that happened on both sides of the ball. On offense:

• 35-yard TD pass from Dak Prescott to Amari Cooper
• 47-yard run by Ezekiel Elliott
• 6-yard TD pass from Dak to Dalton Schultz
• 14-yard run by Tony Pollard
• 23-yard TD pass from Dak to Cedric Wilson

The defense was equally impressive:

• Rookies Osa Odighizuwa and Chauncey Golston teaming for a sack of Sam Darnold for a 6 yard loss.
• Jayron Kearse tackle-for-loss
• Trevon Diggs interception of Sam Darnold
• Trevon Diggs interception of Sam Darnold

That's nine high impact plays over a 24-play period of football. I cannot recall the last time the Cowboys just thoroughly dominated a (seemingly) quality opponent in such an impressive and exciting fashion.

Unfortunately, there were another 48 minutes of football that was played Sunday and during those 48 minutes Dallas was outscored 28 - 12 and outgained 355 to 260. In some ways, this is modern NFL football. Teams are going to move the ball and score points. The fact Dallas has shown they can explode for points, similar to how Kansas City has done behind Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, is a good thing. Such explosions can make up for a lot of sins and, as the overall numbers show, the Cowboys are still committing many sins.

Some will argue the Panthers fourth quarter points and yards were meaningless "garbage time" numbers. Nonsense. Not in today's NFL where teams routinely overcome what used to be insurmountable deficits (see Dallas vs Atlanta from 2020). The fact Dallas had to convert late first downs in order to avoid a nail-biting ending is all you need to know.

Nevertheless, mission accomplished. And mission accomplished in an exciting, entertaining fashion.

Coaching: A

Full disclosure: I was not a big fan of bringing in Mike McCarthy. I felt he'd largely rode the coattails of Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay and I need more fingers than I possess to count the times he bungled his was through game management situations that often cost the Packers' victories or made wins harder than they needed to be.

Last season didn't do anything to change my mind. But there's no question, whatsoever, that the 2021 Dallas Cowboys are the best-coached version we've seen since....Jimmy Johnson? You could argue Bill Parcells had well-coached teams but I thought he graded out better as a roster and culture-builder than as a head coach over his four years. And none of Jason Garrett's teams came close to reaching the levels of this current coaching staff.

Consider all the things going on with this team

• A high powered offense that's running on all cylinders despite absences of key players such as Zack Martin, La'el Collins and Michael Gallup.
• A dynamic, innovative offensive scheme that puts players into position to succeed.
• Complimentary route trees that scheme players open rather than relying on players beating their man one-on-one.
• Multiple injuries on defense, including five players missing from the defensive line unit.
• Rookies and youngsters contributing all over the field.
• Bottom of the barrel free agents somehow coalescing into the best safety unit this team has had in nearly a decade.
• A willingness to disguise defenses and play multiple schemes not only within the same game but within a single series.
• Ability to identify what's happening in-game and make adjustments that allow the team to take advantage of those trends.

Most of these are things we just did not see under Jason Garrett. His teams would run the same basic schemes on both offense and defense. Players were asked to win individually; the schemes employed rarely, if ever, made their lives easier.

Remember the last time the Cowboys faced Sam Darnold? That was 2019 when the 0-5 Jets beat Dallas 24 - 22 and Darnold threw for 342 yards? Here's what he said after the game:

"They just kind of did what they do, They do it every single week. They just play one-high (safety), occasionally two-high, and they like to stop the run."

When opponents know what you're going to do on both sides of the ball you put your players at a distinct disadvantage.

The current version of the Cowboys looks like a well-coached team that employs modern football ideas. That alone makes this an infinitely better coached team than what fans endured under the robotic, unimaginative, cowardly approach Garret employed for a decade.

(For the record, Jason Garrett isn't a bad NFL coach; but he's also not a particularly good one either. He built a good culture in Dallas. His teams played hard, were generally well-disciplined, knew their assignments, etc. Their practices were crisp and well-organized. Garrett did a lot of good things in Dallas. But his shortcomings were pretty evident before McCarthy came to Dallas. And the things we're seeing now illustrate Garrett's weaknesses simply through comparison.)

Does that mean there's aren't issues? Of course not. We had the weird site of the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Month standing on the sidelines while the Panthers twice marched down the field in short order for touchdowns that caused all that late game tension. McCarthy said if the game had been in question Diggs would have been on the field. Note to Mike: that game was in question.

We also saw the Panthers out scheme the Cowboys in the first half, repeatedly freeing Sam Darnold for big gains on the ground like this 11-yard, second quarter touchdown run. This is easy money for an NFL QB as the Cowboys simply don't have enough defenders to stop a QB run.

On the positive side of the ledger were more examples of Kellen Moore tying opponents up like a pretzel with play designs that put defenders in conflict and no-win situations. How many times in the last couple years have we seen Cowboys skill players wide open for easy touchdowns like this Dalton Schultz touchdown? Again, making things easy for your players.

Look, I had my doubts about not only McCarthy but Dan Quinn as well (check his defensive rankings since coaching the Legion of Boom). But there's simply no debate that this team is now well coached and wasn't previously.

Quarterback: A

There's also no debate that Dak Prescott is playing exceptionally well right now and has firmly established himself among the "non-Mahomes/Brady/Rodgers" 2nd tier of NFL quarterbacks. Sunday was another game where he orchestrated the offense from the line of scrimmage. Decisively knew where to go with the ball and then delivered the ball with accuracy. In addition, he continues to make "off plan" plays that bail the team out of disaster like this left-handed toss on the team's opening sequence. Dak's final numbers combined production and efficiency: 4 touchdowns, zero interceptions for 188 yards on a modest 22 attempts for a 130 passer rating.

He also tossed in a couple key scrambles, including a big 21-yard run on 4th-and-1 in a drive that eventually resulted in a Blake Jarwin touchdown catch.

Dak's numbers for the eight games where McCarthy/Moore/Dak have been together are eye-popping:

• Cowboys averaging 31.5 points per game
• 345 yards passing, 2.4 TDs and 0.6 INTs per game
• 108 passer rating overall
• Lowest passer rating of 88

Pro-rated over a 17-game schedule the Cowboys would score 536 points (team record is 479, though in only 16 games) and Dak would throw for nearly 5,900 yards and 40 touchdowns.

But we also see that Dak is throwing the ball much less frequently the last three games...and has seen his efficiency numbers increase. His passer rating for the last two games combined is 139.

This is a quarterback - and an offense - operating at a very high level.

Running Backs: A

Among the analytics crowd it's popular to dismiss run attempts and encourage passing because, in terms of EPA (expected points added) the average pass play is much more productive than the average run play. And yeah, running on 2nd-and-14 is probably a losing proposition.

But teams that completely abandon the run game and try to sling it around all day do not generally enjoy much success unless the QB is named Mahomes, Brady or Rodgers (and Brees a few years back). I think well-coached teams are looking to employ the run game more creatively.

You do that by passing on early downs to set up short down and distances. Or running from spread formations to get defenders out of the box. Or passing from heavy/jumbo formations. Just basically doing things against what has traditionally been done in the NFL.

Sunday, the Cowboys didn't need to rely upon any of that. They simply bludgeoned a Panthers' defense ranked #1 against the run. Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard and Dak Prescott combined for 245 yards rushing on 34 attempts for a hefty 7.2 yards per attempt. In fact, the Cowboys averaged more yards per rush than yards per pass attempt, which is virtually unheard of.

This bulldozing run by Zeke perfectly illustrates how the Cowboys offensive line, tight ends and backs simply overpowered the Panthers. Watch where Tyron Smith's and Connor Williams' opponents end up. Frankly that looks a lot like the Cowboys' historically pathetic run defense from last season, except that's the NFL's #1 run defense getting steamrolled. Seriously, put this play on loop and just enjoy.

Much was written in the off-season about Zeke being more "fit" and "explosive" and I'm always highly skeptical about such things. And I honestly don't see the same burst and speed that he had in his early days. But he runs as hard as any back and does look quicker than he has in recent years.

Here we see him muscling his way into the end zone. There's nothing specail about this play and I feel like most of Elliott's 4 TD runs on the season have all come from short yardage. But having a line and a back that can convert from there is an important weapon to have in the arsenal.

Tony Pollard chipped in his usual efficient contributions, tallying 67 yards on 10 attempts. Pollard is now averaging 6.8 yards on 37 rushes this year. In fact, he and Elliott combined are on pace for 2,500 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Cowboys have one of the best running back combos in the league.

Wide Receivers: B

Opening night of the 2021 season saw the Cowboys employ a passing attack that featured their high-powered wide receiving group. They tallied 27 catches on 41 targets that night. Since, however, wide receivers have been targeted only 37 times, an average of only 12 targets per game. Amari Cooper or CeeDee Lamb could easily receive 12 targets per game.

Nevertheless, the group still continues to contribute. Sunday the Cooper, Lamb, Cedric Wilson trio snagged 7 of 10 balls thrown their way for 112 yards, two touchdowns and a healthy 147 passer rating.

Cooper ignited the 3rd quarter scoring explosion by hauling in this well placed ball. This was classic Cooper as he simply beat his man one-on-one. He's doing this despite recovering from a cracked rib and suffering a hamstring injury during the game. With Michael Gallup already missing the Cowboys don't want to lose another of their top wide-outs.

Then another well-designed play baited the Panthers defense into aggressively attacking the expected pass to the flat, leaving Cedric Wilson uncovered for another 3rd quarter touchdown. The Cowboys had set this play up earlier in the game and Prescott's pump fake had two defenders covering Dalton Schultz and no one covering Wilson. Wilson has produced when given opportunities the last couple seasons. I imagine he'll be elsewhere next season as he'll be a free agent. I expect him to do well wherever he ends up.

While the volume numbers on the season are not particularly noteworthy for the wideout group the efficiency numbers continue to excel. Dak is averaging 8.3 yards per target for a 101 passer rating throwing to the wideouts.

The opportunities haven't been there for bigger numbers but I imagine for this team to succeed long-term there will be more days like opening night when they're asked to carry the load.

Tight ends: B+

Dalton Schultze had another productive and efficient day at the tight end spot. He would finish with 6 catches on 8 targets for 58 yards and a touchdown. Blake Jarwin had only one catch but made the most of it, going 18 yards for another 3rd quarter touchdown. This was another well-designed play with big Noah Brown creating a natural rub that makes it almost impossible for 1-on-1 defenders to cover.

The tight end duo had a fairly typical, efficient 2021 game. They've combined for 4 TDs and 170 yards on 20 targets the last two weeks. Note how efficient they've been the last three weeks, catching a high percentage of passes and getting in the end zone.

I mean, when you already have a QB playing like one of the best 8 QBs in the league. And a WR corps that's arguably the best in the league and certainly top 5. And running back duo that is either the best or 2nd best (Browns) and you add not one but two tight ends capable of catching the football? And an offensive line playing at a high level. This is an embarrassment of riches.

On the negative side of the ledge, however, was Schultz putting the ball on the carpet on three consecutive plays. First he fumbled after a catch. Replay, however, showed he was (barely) down before the ball popped loose. On the very next play he again made a catch but dropped the ball upon being hit. This was a clean fumble and it's outrageous the NFL's stupid replay rules prevented the Panthers' from challenging what was an indisputable fumble.

The Cowboys have had a fair amount of luck throughout the season when it comes to such plays. We've been on the wrong side of that equation many times so I'm not going to dwell on it much. Finally, on the failed 2-point conversion Schultz dropped the ball after being tackled just short of the goal line. That none of those three "fumbles" ended up hurting the Cowboys' is sheer luck.

Offensive line: A

The numbers tell a story of domination against a unit that came in ranked first in run defense and pass defense:

• 36 points
• 245 rushing yards
• 7.2 yards per rushing attempt
• 0 sacks allowed

The Panthers defensive front was advertised as a dynamic, deep group that had wreaked havoc on opposing offenses. The Cowboys offensive line thoroughly dominated them. This 47-yard scamper by Ezekiel Elliott demonstrates how they had their way.

Brian Baldinger broke down Tyron Smith's play and came away impressed. Terence Steele has gone from being a serious concern to a solid run blocker and (mostly) adequate pass defender. Zack Martin continues his march to the Hall of Fame unabated. Even Tyler Biadasz, who has struggled mightily at times, had a number of good plays.

This was a great performance. And another in a long line of explosive games from the offense. None of that's possible if the offensive line can't hold up and this unit is also playing at a high level.

Defensive line: B

I'm a bit perplexed on how to grade this unit. There was so much to like. Darnold, after having a relatively comfortable first half, was shellshocked in that decisive third quarter. He was sacked twice and threw two ill-advised passes under duress that ended up in Trevon Diggs' hands.

Most impressively is the fact it was largely three rookies and Randy Gregory doing the damage. Micah Parsons, Osa Odighizuwa and Chauncey Golston combined for 4 sacks and 9 quarterback hits. Gregory had his best game of the season, repeatedly terrorizing the Panthers' left tackle. Here's his first sack where a well-executed stunt freed him to then just overpower the center.It was a devastating combination of scheme and skill.

And here he combines strength and tenacity on his way to the quarterback. Perhaps most promising, however, are the rookies Odighizuwa and Golston. Osa seems to get better with every game and is, right now, the best interior lineman the Cowboys have had since Maliek Collins and maybe further back. Golston was out a couple weeks with COVID but was active and disruptive.

A lot of us were concerned when Demarcus Lawrence went down that this group would look like the helpless unit from last season. Not at all. They're not elite but they're not a huge weakness either. Considering these rookies are playing in their first NFL games and talents like Demarcus Lawrence, Neville Gallimore and Trysten Hill will be coming back, this has the makings of a very deep, young and athletic unit.

And yet...the Chargers still ran for 113 yards at a 4.7 YPA clip. And Darnold, despite the sacks, still threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns. And consider how the defense didn't hold up outside of the 3rd quarter after Cowboys scores:

• Up 7-0 early immediately surrendered a 75-yard touchdown.
• Up 13-7 immediately surrendered a 75-yard touchdown.
• Up 36-14 surrendered a 60-yard touchdown.
• Up 36-21 late surrendered an 80 yard touchdown that took only 2:18 off the clock.

That can't happen. Just can't. Not against an opponent who essentially only had one grade A threat (DJ Moore) and was missing their primary weapon Christian McCaffery. So while there's a lot of promise with this unit there's also a lot of room for improvement.

Linebackers: C

Another group that's hard to grade. The film breakdown guys will weigh in later this week but to my amateur eye it just seemed like Leighton Vander Esch had another meh game. Didn't make a lot of plays, seemed lost in space frequently and got beaten in pass coverage. Micah Parsons, who played LBer most of the first half, failed to wrap up this tackle leading to a big play that eventually led to a Panthers' touchdown.Vander Esch looked like he had a chance to make the play as well but failed to do so.

Perennial whipping boy Jaylon Smith saw his playing time drop to only 28 snaps and they looked like most of this snaps this year. He didn't have any huge breakdowns or blown assignments but he also didn't contribute any plays. The two would combine for 5 tackles and were otherwise kept off the statsheet.

With Keanu Neal coming back next week I wouldn't be surprised to see Smith and LVE's playtime drop further.

Secondary: B+

Again, my instinct is to give a higher grade. I mean Trevon Diggs is looking like the best Cowboys corner since Terence Newman. Sunday he electrified the Cowboys Stadium crowd and turned the game around with interceptions on consecutive possesions.

The first saw him playing a robber role where Darnold never saw him. Diggs again showed off his receiver-quality hands, cleanly snatching the ball out of midair. He would follow that up with a play that combined his aggressiveness with an expert read and, again, elite-level ball skills.

I'm not ready to proclaim Diggs an elite NFL cornerback but, right now, there's not another cornerback whose had a greater impact on his team's games in 2021.

In addition we saw Jayron Kearse again showing out. The Cowboys newcomer would tally six tackles, 2 tackles for loss and a quarterback hit. He's been a dynamic presence at the safety position since first getting on the field against the LA Chargers.

We even had Damontae Kazee patrolling centerfield old-school style, delivering a massive open-field hit. This was a clean shoulder-to-shoulder hit that shouldn't have warranted a flag, but when it happens in real time it's almost impossible for officials to see that. Nevertheless I like it because it shows an attacking, physical style of play.

So why the relatively low grade? Just reference those long drives above. Despite the turnovers and big hits and playmaking this group allowed a short-handed Panthers offense to repeatedly march up and down the field. Anthony Brown was again badly victimized on the outside. Teams are averaging 10.7 yards per target targeting Brown on the season along with an absurd 119 passer rating.

In addition training camp darling Maurice Canady showed why those shaky training camp video clips aren't a good way to evaluate players. Once Diggs left the game he was attacked and simply had no answers. Those two late Panthers drives featured Canady on the wrong end of multiple plays, including this touchdown where someone will have to explain to me what Canady is doing.

Like the Cowboys' defense overall the secondary is a bit boom or bust. They're active and making plays. But on a play-to-play, drive-to-drive basis they're pretty vulnerable. That might change as Donovan Wilson and Keeanu Neal work their way back into the rotation.

However, the single easiest way for this group to improve is for someone to step up and assume the second outside cornerback spot in place of Anthony Brown. Second round pick Kelvin Joseph is the best candidate, but third round pick Nashon Wright is another. Hopefully, between those two, someone can step up because Brown is currently this team's biggest weakness.

Special Teams: B

Nothing really noteworthy here, which is probably a good thing. I can't recall the last time a Cowboys player made a positive impact on either a punt or kickoff return. Admittedly those have largely been schemed out of the league but an occasional play would be nice.

Summary:

I will again quote myself from the week one roundup:

Dak Prescott and the offense are going to be a handful for anyone they face. Thursday it was the wideouts doing the damage because that's where the opportunities were. But if teams take that away Dallas can go to the run game and if that doesn't work they also have two pass catching tight ends and a dynamic second running back.

I continue to stand by that assessment until proven otherwise. And as long as it's true this team can compete with any team in the league and should be favored over many. Add a defense that, while vulnerable at times, continues to make plays and generate turnovers and this is an exciting roster with lots of young players making contributions.

Finally, as noted earlier, you have a coaching staff that's pulling all the right levers. I don't think I ever felt Jason Garrett and his staffs gave the Cowboys an advantage over opposing staffs. I feel like this group will on many Sundays. Add all that up and, as I said last week, Cowboys' fans should be excited about this team's possibilities.