Rico Doodle gave a heads-up to the Cowboys, telling them to “brace themselves” before their game at Carolina on Sunday.
The Panthers’ running back had quite a day, rushing for 183 yards and scoring a touchdown, plus he made a last-minute field goal to seal the win against his former team.
In a nail-biting finish, the Panthers triumphed 30-27, culminating in a remarkable 15-play, 71-yard drive that ended with a 33-yard field goal from Ryan Fitzgerald and a crucial 25-yard rush by Dowdle.
After the game, Doodle simply remarked, “They weren’t tightened,” seemingly referring to the Cowboys’ lack of preparedness.
Dowdle himself had a standout performance, totaling 239 yards from scrimmage, which made for the most significant two-game streak in franchise history after his impressive 206 rushing yards the week before.
Interestingly, Christian McCaffery had briefly set a record in 2019 during games against the Texans and Jaguars.
Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan commented, “The film doesn’t lie; everyone in Bank of America Stadium could see what No. 5 was doing out there.” He emphasized that Doodle is a vital component of the team’s offensive strategy and that he deserves recognition.
Dowdle had previously spent five seasons with the Cowboys, having been signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He notably became the first undrafted player in Dallas history to rush for over 1,000 yards during the 2024 season.
However, the Cowboys decided to let him go in free agency last offseason, leading him to sign a one-year, $2.75 million deal with the Panthers.
This victory puts the Panthers at 3-3 for the season, marking their second consecutive win following a triumph against the Dolphins in Week 5. Carolina had a rocky start, losing its first two games, but has since rebounded, winning three of its last four, and will face the winless Jets next week.
