Imagine telling your former team to "buckle up" and then absolutely dominating them on the field. That's exactly what Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle did to the Dallas Cowboys, leaving no doubt about his message. David Newton of ESPN reports that Dowdle didn't just talk the talk; he steamrolled the Cowboys for a staggering 239 scrimmage yards in their recent matchup. But here's where it gets controversial: did the Cowboys underestimate him, or did Dowdle simply reach a new level of performance? Let's dive in.
Newton, an NFL reporter at ESPN with a history of covering the Carolina Panthers since 1995 (and a stint covering NASCAR before that!), painted a vivid picture of Dowdle's revenge game. After the Panthers' thrilling 30-27 victory at Bank of America Stadium, Dowdle was quoted as saying, with a touch of dry humor, "They wasn't buckled up." And he wasn't kidding.
Dowdle's performance wasn't just good; it was record-breaking. His 239 scrimmage yards set a new team record. More impressively, it made him only the seventh player ever in NFL history to rack up at least 230 scrimmage yards in consecutive games. Think about that for a moment – he's in some very elite company. And this is the part most people miss: Dowdle's explosion wasn't just a flash in the pan. His 473 scrimmage yards over the past two games obliterated Christian McCaffrey's previous team record of 416. That's a serious statement.
This surge of success has propelled the Carolina Panthers to a 3-3 record, bringing them back to .500 for the first time since Week 10 of the 2021 season. This is no small feat, especially considering their struggles in recent years. But Dowdle's performance raises a crucial question: what happens when Chuba Hubbard, the presumed starter, returns from his calf injury? It's a good problem to have, but one that Coach Dave Canales acknowledged would require careful consideration. "We're going to figure that part out," Canales said, emphasizing that Dowdle will remain a significant part of their plans. Who do you think should start when Hubbard is healthy? Is it a meritocracy, or does Hubbard's previous role give him an edge?
The Cowboys (now 2-3-1), with what's being called the league's worst defense, simply couldn't contain Dowdle from the start. He burst out of the gate with 21 rushing yards on his first two carries and added a 13-yard reception early on. He even punctuated his performance with a 36-yard touchdown reception from Bryce Young, followed by a memorable celebration where he pretended to shovel dirt on a grave – a symbolic burial of the Cowboys, perhaps?
But burying Dallas proved to be tougher than expected. The Panthers ultimately needed a walk-off 33-yard field goal from rookie Ryan Fitzgerald to secure the win. For Dowdle, though, the victory was paramount. "I've been saying all week the main thing is I just wanted to get that win," he stated. "Big, big for me, but also big the organization. Getting to .500 and protecting the home field... just got to keep building."
Dowdle openly admitted that the game held extra significance for him, especially after the Cowboys declined to meet his financial expectations following what he stated was his first 1,000 yard rushing season a year ago. Was this a case of the Cowboys undervaluing him, or did Dowdle simply find the perfect opportunity to showcase his talent elsewhere? Bryce Young, the Panthers' quarterback, certainly noticed the added motivation. "Yeah, of course," Young said. "Rico is a competitor. That just speaks to the dawg he is. We knew it was personal. We wanted to have his back. That's our brother... If it's personal to him, it's personal to us."
Dowdle's performance came tantalizingly close to making history. He fell just 17 rushing yards short of becoming only the fifth player since 1970 to achieve 200 rushing yards in consecutive games. Even without that milestone, his 230-plus scrimmage yards in back-to-back games place him alongside NFL legends like Jim Brown, Walter Payton, and Marshall Faulk. All this from a player who had limited touches in the first four games of the season.
Dowdle, however, wasn't without his flaws. He took responsibility for a fumble resulting from a lateral from wide receiver Xavier Legette, admitting it was his call. But despite this misstep, his storybook run has positioned him for a potential starting role – a prospect few would have predicted when he signed a one-year deal to back up Hubbard. This is where it gets really interesting, because it puts the team in a tricky situation. Do they reward performance, or stick with the original plan?
The Cowboys, undoubtedly, took notice. "He told us to buckle up," Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott conceded. "He got the last laugh." What do you think? Did the Cowboys make a mistake letting Dowdle go? And what does this performance mean for the future of the Panthers' running game?
