The Carolina Panthers pulled off a gutsy comeback 27-24 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Week Five to bring their record to 2-3. Many players had a role in the victory, but one player shone above the rest.
Rico Dowdle was named the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Week after racking up 206 yards rushing and a touchdown. Dowdle averaged nine yards a carry and pulled off a 53-yard run.
Panthers starting running back Chubba Hubbard missed the game with an injury, and Dowdle didn’t miss a beat filling in for him. Dowdle’s performance shouldn’t be too surprising, though, as last season with the Dallas Cowboys, he rushed for over 1,000 yards and proved himself to be a capable running back in the NFL.
Dowdle Ran With Attitude
Rico Dowdle helped carry the Panthers to victory against the Dolphins, and his mindset was a significant part of his success.
In the Panthers.com article from October 8 on Dowdle winning NFC Offensive Player of the Week, head coach Dave Canales praised Dowdle for his attitude and the impact he brought to the game.
“It’s the attitude that he ran with,” said coach Dave Canales of Dowdle’s performance. “The violence that he ran with, finishing through arm tackles, something that we’ve been challenging our guys on, when we get you to the second level, have a plan for how you finish, and I saw a great finish today out of Rico.”
Dowdle’s performance now opens the possibilities of what this Panther offense can look like when Chubba Hubbard is ready to return.
Hubbard Isn’t Worried About Playing Time
Panthers running back Chubba Hubbard knows what it’s like to have to wait your turn. He was running back tandems with both Christian McCaffrey and D’Onta Foreman in the past. Now, while out injured, Hubbard has no problem celebrating Rico Dowdle’s success.
Hubbard is currently out due to a calf injury and may once again be on the sidelines watching Dowdle play. However, Hubbard isn’t worried about his job and is instead supportive of his teammate, as Panthers.com wrote about in an October 8 article.
“I don’t even think like that,” Hubbard said. “Obviously, Rico had an amazing game, one of the best games ever. And for me, seeing a guy that works his ass off, works day in and day out, get that opportunity and do what he did. I mean, all I have is happiness for him.”
Hubbard knows that if all the running backs are playing well, it makes everyone else’s job easier.
“I think one thing you can never be mad about is having a talented RB room,” Hubbard said. “I think there are ways to complement each other. Also, I think that you know there are moments like this where one guy goes down and another guy needs to step up. And just Rico, Trevor, and the rest of the guys, DJ even coming in, everyone just filled in and did a great job.”
Dowdle will get his chance to expand on his great week when the Panthers face his former team, the Cowboys, at Bank of America Stadium.
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