CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Rico Dowdle warned his former Dallas Cowboys teammates last week that they better prepareAnd fasten your seat belt.
“They weren’t wearing seat belts,” Dowdle said.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott looks to throw a pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco) -
Carolina Panthers’ -
Rico Dowdle (5) of the Carolina Panthers celebrates a touchdown with Bryce Young (9), Brady Christensen (70) and Trevor Etienne (23) in the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco) -
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (5) runs the ball for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
The sixth-year running back went over 200 yards from scrimmage for the second straight week and rookie Ryan Fitzgerald kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired as the Carolina Panthers defeated the Cowboys 30-27 in a wild back-and-forth game on Sunday.
Bryce Young completed 17 of 25 passes for 199 yards and threw two of his three passes to rookie Taitairu McMillan to help the Panthers (3-3) improve to 3-0 at home.
Dowdle, who spent five years with the Cowboys before signing earlier this year with the Panthers, ran for 183 yards on 30 carries and caught four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown as Carolina avenged home losses to Dallas the last two seasons.
Dowdle’s 473 yards from scrimmage over the past two weeks is a franchise record. He also became the seventh NFL player in the past 20 years to post consecutive 200-yard games. His 239 yards on Sunday also set a franchise record, breaking the previous mark of 237 yards, set twice by Christian McCaffrey.
“It was personal for him and we knew that. We want to protect him,” Young said. “This is our brother, and if it’s important to him and it’s personal to him, it’s important to us.”
McMillan had never caught a touchdown pass in the NFL before Sunday after scoring 26 points during his three seasons at the University of Arizona. But he broke through with receptions of 19 and 2 yards.
Dak Prescott finished 25 of 34 for 261 yards and three touchdowns for the Cowboys (2-3-1). Dallas A wastedCareer best from George Pickenswho caught nine passes for 168 yards and a touchdown.
The Cowboys were outscored 216-31 on the ground, which proved to be the difference in the game.
“We knew they were a physical football team,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “They were able to run it and we didn’t.”
After the Cowboys tied the game with a field goal, Young drove the Panthers 71 yards in 15 plays and took more than six minutes off the clock to finish the game. At one point, the Cowboys were trying to let the Panthers score to get the ball back, but rookie kicker Trevor Etienne wisely fell after a first down before the end zone.
Young took a knee twice to set up Fitzgerald’s winning shot.
Young was 3 of 4 for 25 yards on the final drive, including a huge 7-yard completion on fourth-and-4 to Hunter Renfrow to move the chains. Dowdle added 22 yards on four carries against the league’s 32nd-ranked defense.
Trailing 17-13 at halftime, Young found Dowdle alone along the left sideline for a 36-yard touchdown pass to cap a four-play, 80-yard drive to give Carolina its first lead of the game. It is laterHe threw a second TD passTo McMillan on a play the Panthers just made this week.
“When we designed that play, he was last in line,” Young said. “We played it in practice and he was like, ‘I love this play. That’s a great design,” and he said, “If you come back to me (on the progression), I’ll win it.” It’s great to see acceptance from someone who was last to the progression, but still loves to play.”
Young continued to struggle with turnovers in the first half, although it wasn’t his fault this time.
McMillan let a pass from Young fly into his hands early in the second quarter and Donovan Wilson picked it off and returned it 31 yards to the Carolina 13. That set up a 3-yard touchdown pass from Prescott to Hunter Luebke off a fake play on fourth-and-1 that gave Dallas a 10-3 lead.
But McMillan, the No. 8 overall pick in the NFL draft, would make up for the ensuing possession mistake, with a double play that led to a 19-yard touchdown.
Carolina’s struggles to cover tight ends came back to haunt them in the second quarter as Jake Ferguson broke free from the sideline for a 19-yard touchdown pass to give Dallas a 17-13 lead heading into halftime.
But in the end, there was just too much Doodle for the Cowboys to handle.
“Great job tonight. Great job last week,” Prescott said of his former teammate. “Rico told us to buckle up and he had the last laugh. We have a great backfield. I love my team. But I miss this guy. Rico is a great friend. I’m proud of him more than anything.”
the next
Dallas: Hosts Washington on Sunday.
Carolina: Visits the winless New York Jets on Sunday.
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