What impressed Carolina's coach about his players in their win against Miami? By Scott Fowler
So will the real Carolina Panthers stand up?
Remember, on Sept. 21, when the Panthers dominated Atlanta at home and didn’t allow a point? Last week, Carolina went to New England and didn’t look anywhere close to the same team. Remember that 42-13 loss?
So Sunday, after the Panthers got down by 17 points early to the Dolphins, a lot of fans probably thought this would simply be New England, Part Deux.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, left and head coach Dave Canales, right, celebrate their team's 27-24 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, October 5, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
But just as suddenly, quarterback Bryce Young found his form, the defense stood up and reserve running back Rico Dowdle put up a career-type game.
And the Panthers gave fans a thrilling finish in a 27-24 win.
For those keeping score at home, the Panthers are unbeaten at Bank of America Stadium this season.
“It’s about us,” Carolina coach Dave Canales said moments after the game, “and we have to be able to take that with us on the road as well. It’s always going to be about us. Can we stay together? Can we stay tight, tightly together, so that we can execute when we need to?”
Sunday afternoon that mentality helped yield a comeback that tied for the biggest in franchise history.
“Having the advantage of our fan base here, which for the ones who stayed, got to see an amazing show,” Canales said. This is “a team that just won’t quit, just has resilience, you know? But this is something that we have to continue to build on. We know how to finish. Can we start and play consistent football all the way through. That’s the question and we can’t lose that just because we won the game. we have to still tell the truth, we got to look at the things that we need to improve on and move forward.”
Here’s a little of that truth.
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle, right, celebrates his rushing touchdown during fourth quarter action against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, October 5, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. The Panthers defeated the Dolphins 27-24. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
After Dowdle’s fourth quarter touchdown gave the Panthers a 20-17 lead, Miami answered right back with a 46-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Jaylen Waddle. Carolina and its fans barely had a chance to celebrate.
But down 24-20 with 4:36 to play, Dowdle broke off a big run and Carolina started driving again. Young hit Jimmy Horn Jr. on a fourth and 5 to extend the drive. And with 1:59 to play, Young hit Mitchell Evans with a short pass for the game-winner.
Carolina Panthers tight end Mitchell Evans, right, celebrates his touchdown pass reception with team personnel during fourth quarter action against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, October 5, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. The Panthers defeated the Dolphins 27-24. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
“There’s lots of stuff to work on,” Canales said, “but again, just the fight in this team, the belief in each other to continue to play, to continue to troubleshoot and find solutions together. I thought that was the biggest thing I came out with today. Guys were talking in between series and when things happened, they collectively got together, went out together, fixed some things and continued to play well.”
In a lot of ways, for Panthers’ fans, Sunday’s win may have felt a bit like stealing.
Consider that Young threw a pick and lost a fumble in the Panthers’ first six plays. By then, Miami led 17-0.
And after that, except for the Waddell touchdown play, the Panthers played lights out.
Canales had lots to say afterwards.
On Rico Dowdle
Dowdle, stepping for injured starter Chuba Hubbard, became the third Panthers’ player to pass 200 yards rushing in a game. Dowdle finished with 23 carries for 206 yards and a touchdown.
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle, center, is congratulated by his teammates after he rushed for a touchdown during fourth quarter action against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, October 5, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. The Panthers defeated the Dolphins 27-24. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
“We had a great game plan,” Canales said. “Rico would up here and first off tell you, (that) the offensive line did an excellent job of getting movement to get the run started.
“But it’s the attitude that he ran with, the violence that he ran with; finishing through arm tackles, something that we’ve been challenging our guys on. You know, when we get you to the second level, have a plan for how you finish. And I saw great finish today out of out of Rico and, you know, Trevor (Etienne, 5.5 yards per carry) got in there, and had a couple of nice touches as well. So I was really pleased with that group.”
Fourth down execution
The Panthers were 2-for-2 on fourth down, including a pass from Young to Jimmy Horn Jr. in the fourth quarter that led to the game-winning touchdown pass.
“Yeah, we needed those,” Canales said. “Those were big, big plays for us on fourth down. The guys are comfortable in different situations going for it, you know. Bryce did a great job of extending that play to find T Mac (Tetairoa McMillan), and then Jimmy Horn coming through for us in a big, big way. There was a defender there, he tried to make a play, and Jimmy got up there and snatched it away from him.”
The Panthers’ rush defense
Carolina allowed the Dolphins 19 yards rushing on 14 carries.
“When you look at the last, five games now, when you talk about first and second down, normal runs, our defense has been doing a great job,” Canales said. “Where we got hurt a little bit, was some of the perimeter stuff. And I thought we did a great job there of minimizing (the outside runs Sunday) by just rallying. It was really just guys hustling to the ball. They did get a couple of nice ones on us. But for the most part, it was just a really well executed plan from a run game standpoint.”
How the team fought back from being down 17-0
“I just felt (it was) the maturity of this group,” Canales said. “You’re going to face adversity. You’re going to face hard times. But it’s the response. This game is about how you respond to adversity. And I saw us take a step in terms of just collectively staying together.”
Rookies stepping up
McMillan and Horn had those two fourth down conversions and combined for eight catches for 94 yards. Etienne ran four times for 22 yards and caught a pass. Canales said every yard helped.
“How big of a step forward is it collectively for the rookies to execute and win a close game like this?” Canales said rhetorically. “Yeah, we’re counting on them. We’re counting on our rookies to be a part of what we’re doing and and I see them take strides every week. You know, it happens in practice, and it’s the ownership of what we’re doing which allows you to play fast. And I saw those guys just be confident out there, and Bryce trusts them, and Bryce is going to give them opportunities when (the opportunities) present themselves.”
Any thoughts about pulling Young after the poor start?
On Xavier Legette’s return and his touchdown
Legette — a former first round pick who had been injured and struggling — returned to the lineup Sunday and had two catches for 31 yards, plus a touchdown catch in the first half.
Carolina Panther wide receiver Xavier Legette (center) joined his fellow teammate Bryce Young in leading over 300 campers at the Caresource Bryce Young Football ProCamp hosted at Johnson C. Smith University Saturday, June 7, 2025.
“When the ball came to him, he made the play,” Canales said. “And that’s all we need from him. He showed up today. He had a great look in his eyes. He was excited to get out there. I saw him through the week, just every day, just building confidence, building confidence. I’m so glad Bryce gave him a shot right there, where they had double coverage on (two other receivers). Xavier had the single (and) we need you to win big, and he did on his touchdown.”
Afterward the score, Canales was seen talking with the former South Carolina star.
“I was about to cry, honestly,” Canales said. “Just very proud of the work that he’s put in to get himself back out there, because I see him grinding. I see him attacking the things that he needs to work on in practice. He’s not shying away from it. He hit it head on, and he looked in the mirror and he said, ‘These are the things that I need to improve my game on,’ (and) to get him back out there healthy and playing confident was huge.”