In 2024, Rico Dowdle was the starting running back for the Dallas Cowboys. After a season that saw Dowdle rush for 1,079 in 15 starts, and 16 games overall, Dowdle was allowed to leave in free agency.
He clearly was not happy about it.
On Sunday, Dowdle got his revenge, personally and for his team.
Dowdle had 30 carries for 183 yards, adding four catches for 56 yards and a touchdown, in Carolina’s 30-27 victory.
The former Cowboys’ running back was coming off a 206-yard one-touchdown performance last week against Miami. He had another 38 yards on three catches in that win.
He outrushed the entire Cowboys’ offense, which finished with just 31 yards on 19 carries.
Javonte Williams, the man who replaced Dowdle in Dallas, was held to 29 yards on 13 carries.
Dowdle had warned the Cowboys to “buckle up” earlier this week. Brian Schottenheimer responded that they would do so.
The Cowboys, in fact, didn’t buckle up.
Wasted Performances
The last-second loss wasted one of Dak Prescott’s better efforts this year. Prescott was 25-for-34 for 261 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Prescott recovered a loose ball on a bad snap that kept the ball with Dallas to set up the game-tying field goal with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter.
His favorite target was George Pickens, who had a monster day. Pickens had nine catches for 168 yards and a touchdown.
While the defense overall, did not have a great day, again, there were some solid individual efforts.
Shemar James led the team with 11 tackles.
Donovan Wilson picked off a Bryce Young pass that clanked off the hands of Tetairoa McMillan, who had two touchdowns in the game. Marist Liufau had the Cowboys’ lone sack.
Hunter Luepke Sighting
Fullback Hunter Luepke caught two passes in the game. His first was a three-yard catch on fourth down to give the Cowboys a 10-3 lead on the first play of the second quarter.
Jalen Tolbert’s natural pick left Luepke wide open for his first NFL touchdown reception and his second in his three-year career.
The .500 Barrier
For the second time this year, the Cowboys failed to get above the .500 mark. They are now 2-3-1 on the season and remain 1.5 games behind in the chase for the NFC East.
However, the Giants are now just a half-game back of Dallas.
The Cowboys’ defense needs to tighten up and quick if Dallas wants to ever get back over .500, much less hold off the suddenly surging Giants and stay out of the NFC East’s cellar.
By The Numbers
The Cowboys are now 12-6 all-time against the Panthers. Dallas is now 7-4 against the Panthers when playing in North Carolina.
This was the first time that Carolina beat Dallas at home since a 16-8 win in 2018.
The Cowboys are now 32-27 all time in Week 6 games with one game lost to the 1982 strike and six bye weeks falling on this week. They are 13-17 when playing on the road in the sixth week of the year.
Sunday’s final score was the sixth time in team history a game ended with that score.
Dallas is now 3-3 in those games, having lost the last three games that ended at 30-27.
The last time Dallas won a 30-27 game was back in Week 8 of the 1984 season. The Cowboys beat the Saints at home by that score in 1984.
