Rico Dowdle backs up talk, steamrolls Cowboys for 239 yards - ESPN

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle didn't hesitate when asked what his postgame message was to the Dallas Cowboys after telling his former team to «buckle up'' heading into Sunday's 30-27 victory at Bank of America Stadium.

»They wasn't buckled up,'' Dowdle deadpanned.

Not even close.

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 by Christian McCaffrey and helped Carolina (3-3) reach the .500 mark for the first time since it was 5-5 in Week 10 of the 2021 season.

Dowdle's effort also opened up a conversation about who will start once Chuba Hubbard returns from a calf injury that has sidelined him the past two weeks.

«A great question,'' coach Dave Canales said after Carolina improved to 3-0 at home this season with a road game against the winless New York Jets (0-6) next. „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 the league's 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 quarterback Bryce Young less 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