Dallas Cowboys: 3 Big takeaways from loss vs. Panthers in Week 1

3. Lack of creativity on offense

The Dallas Cowboys looked like a team who hadn’t played together all preseason long in the first half and for most plays in their 16-8 loss to the Panthers on late Sunday afternoon. Use whatever word you want to use — unimaginative, boring, predictable — the offense just wasn’t that fun or exciting to watch on Sunday. It was also easy to tell this unit wasn’t at 100-percent on the offensive line and that they had a rookie at guard and not Travis Frederick at center.

That said, the entire offensive effort was just off, and it didn’t help matters the Carolina defense played at a high level and never allowed the Cowboys to get into any type of groove or gain much momentum. The defensive backs of the Panthers made life hectic for the Cowboys’ wide receivers, and that affected Prescott, who had to play under pressure as well with the rushing game of the Cowboys being mostly non-existent as well.

Any way you want to shape, it the Cowboys were predictable on the offensive side of the ball and the Panthers exposed that on Sunday and possibly even made former Cowboys wide receiver look like he knew what he was talking about all along.

One thing is for certain with the offense: the duo of Jason Garrett and Scott Linehan need to add some new wrinkles, get their paint kit out and draw up something with some color and excitement before they face the New York Giants next Sunday night.