Unbuckled: Dowdle backs up talk, rolls Cowboys

Bryce Young escapes the pocket and finds Rico Dowdle for a 36-yard touchdown to give the Panthers the lead. (0:22) CHARLOTTE, N.C. –Carolina Panthersrunning backRico Dowdledidn’t hesitate when asked what his postgame message was to theDallas Cowboysafter telling his former team to “buckle up” heading into Sunday’s30-27victory at Bank of America Stadium. Dowdle had a team-record 239 scrimmage yards against the team that chose not to re-sign him after the 2024 season, making him the seventh player in NFL history to have at least 230 scrimmage yards in consecutive games. His 473 scrimmage yards the past two games smashed the team two-game record of 416 held byChristian McCaffreyand helped Carolina (3-3) reach the .500 mark for the first time since it was 5-5 in Week 10 of 2021. Dowdle’s effort also opened up a conversation about who will start onceChuba Hubbardreturns from a calf injury that has sidelined him the past two weeks. “A great question,” coachDave Canalessaid after Carolina improved to 3-0 at home this season with a road game against the 0-6New York Jetsnext. “We’re going to figure that part out. But I know Rico is doing a great job, and he will be a big part of what we’re doing.” The Cowboys (2-3-1) and their league-worst defense weren’t ready for Dowdle from the outset. Dowdle had 21 yards rushing on his first two carries and caught a 13-yard pass on Carolina’s fourth play to set up a field goal. He had a 36-yard touchdown pass from quarterbackBryce Youngless than two minutes into the second half to put the Panthers up 20-17. He celebrated that one by spinning the ball and then pretending to shovel dirt on a grave. Burying Dallas wouldn’t be as easy as Dowdle bowling over defenders seemed. The Panthers needed a walk-off 33-yard field goal by rookieRyan Fitzgeraldto get the win. “Definitely,” said Dowdle, who spent his first five seasons in Dallas after being an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina in 2020. “I’ve been saying all week the main thing is I just wanted to get that win.