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CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-2) at DALLAS COWBOYS (1-1)

When and where: 8:30 p.m. today, Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas

TV/radio: ESPN/ WZTK-101.1

Weather: Clear, high of 81 degrees

THE STORY LINE

Carolina, 0-2 for the second time in coach John Fox’s eight seasons with the team, will face the NFL’s best running team, Dallas, in the Cowboys $1.3 billion stadium, where they lost their opener to the Giants last week.

THREE TO WATCH

PANTHERS

WR Steve Smith: Last time he faced Dallas, he ripped off 137 yards receiving and a touchdown — but he hasn’t scored since the playoff loss to Arizona. Dallas is giving up 303 yards passing per game.

DB Captain Munnerlyn: Carolina needs electrifyin’. How better than with a quality kick return? It’s been awhile — not since 2003 has someone in Panthers blue taken one to the house. Where have you gone, Rod Smart?

TE Dante Rosario: He nabbed a big score last week, but hasn’t had a game with more than three catches since the 2008 opener at San Diego.

COWBOYS

T Flozell Adams: He handled the Giants’ Jason Tuck and Osi Umenyiora admirably last week (except for that league fine for tripping). Tonight he’ll get DE Julius Peppers, who has seven sacks in five games against Dallas.

RB Marion Barber: Dallas’ pack mule in its threesome of quality backs has a sore quad, but has practiced. He’s nearly matched Carolina’s run game in yards gained (230-203) and has as many scores in ’09 — two.

QB Tony Romo: His post-T.O.-and-Jessica era shows 4 TDs and 3 INTs, but all three of those picks came in the loss to the Giants — at home.

THREE KEY INJURIES

PANTHERS: S Chris Harris (knee) has been traipsing around the locker room, so he’s likely to play. FB Brad Hoover (back) has received treatment, but the verdict is still out. LB Na’il Diggs (ribs) took a good shot against Atlanta.

COWBOYS: SS Mike Hamlin (wrist) won’t be available for another two weeks. LB Jason Williams (ankle) is probably two weeks away, too. Barber is hobbled, but practicing, and should still be the featured back

THREE TRENDS

1. Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware, with 20 sacks in 2008, has none in his last 3 games.

2. Carolina’s offense, after a 169-yard opener, rolled up 440 last week vs. Atlanta.

3. Dallas has the only NFL defense without a forced turnover or a sack.

ANALYSIS

Panthers win if ... their defense can rattle an impressionable Romo with early turnovers, slow the NFL’s second-most prolific offense (420 ypg), especially on third down, and keep Ware off Jake Delhomme.

Cowboys win if ... they grind with the NFL’s finest run game (184.5 ypg, 7.0 yards per carry) early and often and compile a two-digit lead early.

Outcome: Big D means Big Deficiencies for Dallas’ defense in 2009. The ’Boys surrender 438.5 yards per game. Expect RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to hush the gargantuan crowd in the spaceship Jerry Jones built, Romo to struggle playing catch-up and Delhomme to spread the ball around — to the fellas in the road jerseys, almost exclusively. Panthers 36, Cowboys 27.