CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - A North Carolina native made more history for the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, as they secured a second straight win, this time over the Dallas Cowboys.
Sunday’s game was back-and-forth between the Panthers and Cowboys, but when the clock hit zero, it was Carolina who held a 30-27 advantage, thanks to a last-second, game-winning field goal.
Dallas came in with the best offense in the NFL, but Carolina was able to keep pace, with several offensive players putting together impressive performances.
Bryce Young threw for three touchdowns and star rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan caught his first two touchdowns, but it was Asheville native and former South Carolina Gamecock Rico Dowdle who had the biggest day.
Fresh off a 200-yard rushing game against the Dolphins, Dowdle said all week that the Cowboys -- who he played for from 2020-2024 -- had better “buckle up.” Turns out, they didn’t.
Dowdle tallied 183 yards rushing against Dallas, and added another 56 yards receiving, including a 36-yard touchdown grab. His combined 239 yards from scrimmage was the most ever by a Panthers player, breaking Christian McCaffrey’s old mark of 237 yards. In the win over the Dolphins, his 206 rushing yards were the second-most in franchise history.
The 27-year-old said it “meant a lot” to beat his old team, and that it was “special” to make history with his home team. Still, he said winning games and getting the Panthers back to .500 for the first time since 2021 was even bigger.
“The main thing, just wanted to get that win,” Dowdle said postgame. “Big for me, but also big for the organization. You know, getting to .500, protecting the home field, 3-0 at home, so just got to continue to keep building but definitely huge getting that win.”
Panthers running back Rico Dowdle racked up a team record 239 yards of offense during...
Panthers running back Rico Dowdle racked up a team record 239 yards of offense during Carolina's 30-27 win over Dallas.(Erik Verduzco | AP)
Young said after the game that Dowdle ran with “bad intentions.”
“Rico’s a competitor,” the Panthers quarterback said. “That just speaks to the dog he is ... It was personal and we knew that. We want to have his back. That’s our brother. That’s someone when it’s important to him, when it’s personal to him, it’s personal to us.”
Dowdle’s emergence over the past two games came as he stepped in for injured starting running back Chuba Hubbard. When asked how the team will split duties between the two when Hubbard returns, Panthers head coach Dave Canales called it “a great question.”
“We’re going to figure that part out,” Canales said. “But I know Rico is doing a great job and he will be a part of what we’re doing.”
As for Dowdle himself, he said it’s all up to the coaches, but suggested he knows he and Hubbard can be a difficult duo to stop.
“Two is better than one,” Dowdle said postgame. “It’s going to be hard on the defense, seeing us for all four quarters.”
With the win over the Cowboys, the Panthers moved to 3-3 on the season, and will travel to face the 0-6 New York Jets this coming Sunday.
Carolina has yet to win a road game in 2025, and throughout his NFL career, Bryce Young is just 1-17 when playing away from Bank of America Stadium. As of Monday morning, the Panthers were 1.5-point underdogs, according to FanDuel.
Also Read:North Carolina native has historic day as Panthers complete big comeback win
Copyright 2025 WBTV. All rights reserved.