Get ready for a gridiron showdown! The Carolina Panthers clashed with the Dallas Cowboys on October 12, 2025, and the game was nothing short of a rollercoaster. The Panthers emerged victorious with a final score of 30-27, but the story of the game was far more captivating than just the numbers.
Former Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle had warned his old teammates, "They'd better get ready and buckle up." And buckle up they did, but perhaps not enough! Dowdle, now with the Panthers, had a career day, reminding everyone of his talents.
Dowdle's performance was nothing short of spectacular. He exploded for over 200 yards from scrimmage for the second week in a row. Rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald sealed the deal with a 33-yard field goal as time expired. This victory was especially sweet for the Panthers, as they avenged home losses to Dallas from the previous two seasons.
Quarterback Bryce Young had a solid performance, completing 17 of 25 passes for 199 yards and throwing two of his three touchdown passes to rookie Tetairoa McMillan. This helped the Panthers improve to 3-0 at home.
But here's where it gets controversial... Dowdle's impact was undeniable. He ran for 183 yards on 30 carries and caught four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown. His performance resulted in 473 yards from scrimmage over the past two weeks, setting a franchise record. This also made him the seventh NFL player in the last 20 years to achieve back-to-back 200+-yard games. His 239 yards on Sunday also set a franchise record, surpassing Christian McCaffrey's previous mark of 237 yards. Young highlighted the importance of the game for Dowdle, saying, "It was personal for him and we knew that. We want to have his back."
McMillan, who had not caught a touchdown pass in the NFL before Sunday, had a breakout game, scoring two touchdowns. On the other side, Dak Prescott threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys struggled on the ground, being outgained by the Panthers 216-31 in rushing yards, which was a critical factor in the game's outcome. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer admitted, "They were able to run it and we weren’t."
In the final drive, Young led the Panthers 71 yards in 15 plays, taking over six minutes off the clock. Young then took a knee twice to set up Fitzgerald's winning kick. Young completed 3 of 4 passes for 25 yards on the final drive, including a crucial 7-yard completion on fourth-and-4.
Young also connected with Dowdle for a 36-yard touchdown pass, giving Carolina its first lead of the game. A second touchdown pass to McMillan was a play the Panthers had just introduced that week.
Despite some first-half turnovers, McMillan redeemed himself with a 19-yard touchdown. However, Carolina's struggles to cover the tight end allowed Jake Ferguson to score a 19-yard touchdown, giving Dallas a 17-13 lead at halftime.
And this is the part most people miss... Prescott acknowledged Dowdle's impact, saying, “Rico told us to ‘buckle up’ and he got the last laugh. We’ve got a hell of a group of running backs. I love my team. But I miss the guy. Rico’s a hell of a friend. I’m proud of him more than anything.”
What do you think about Dowdle's performance against his former team? Did the Cowboys underestimate him? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
