CeeDee Lamb has 105 yards and a touchdown as the Cowboys took a 10-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.
After punting on their first two possessions, the Cowboys scored on consecutive drives of 77 and 14 yards and were in the red zone before the half when Cooper Rush inexplicably dropped the ball without being touched. Panthers outside linebacker D.J. Johnson recovered at the Carolina 17.
On the next play, the Panthers climbed back into the game with an 83-yard touchdown as Jalen Coker scored on a pass from Bryce Young with 31 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
Young had two turnovers in the first half — a fumble in the red zone that cost the Panthers points and one that led to a 52-yard Brandon Aubrey field goal for the Cowboys. Young was 10-of-13 for 134 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Coker has three catches for 102 yards.
The Cowboys outgained the Panthers 189 to 177.
Rush went 12-of-20 for 134 yards and a touchdown, while Lamb caught eight of 10 targets. Rico Dowdle had 11 carries for 58 yards.
Aubrey tried an NFL-record 70-yard field goal on the final play of the half, but it was wide left and short.