Dave Canales leaned back into the winning formula in Week 9 and Rico Dowdle rewarded his team with an even more encouraging performance
Rico Dowdle had another phenomenal outing as the Carolina Panthers lead back.
The Carolina Panthers entered into Week 9 with an immense challenge going to Lambeau Field to take on the NFC-leading Green Bay Packers, one week removed from a sobering home blowout against the Buffalo Bills.
But, the Panthers understood the challenge and the opportunity that came with this game. It was a chance for a bottom-feeder team to prove they have what it takes to win big games in this league.
“We understood what it was gonna take for us to win this game was doing right longer,” head coach Dave Canales said after the game. “That’s our mentality and that’s also the thing we have to capture. Can we capture this style of football? It didn’t show up for last week. It showed up for us today.”
A big change back to that winning formula was getting running back Rico Dowdle more involved as the primary back, something that worked wonders for the Panthers offense when Chuba Hubbard sat out for two games in Weeks 5-6.
Rico Dowdle paved the way for the Panthers offense in Week 9 win
After splitting drives with Hubbard the previous two games with frustrating results for everyone involved, Canales hinted earlier in the week that Dowdle would start to see more opportunities again as the team’s featured back.
Not only did Dowdle start the first drive at running back, he carried the ball 25 times for 130 yards and two touchdowns against a defense that entered the week with the third-fewest rushing yards per game allowed.
“That’s the player he is. That’s the guy he is,” Panthers quarterback Bryce Young said of Dowdle. “Everyone sees Sunday. But how hard he works, the intensity he has, the intentionality he has during practice, you see him being more and more comfortable. He’s been really vocal about what he wants.”
During Dowdle’s two week explosion, he faced the 30th and 23rd ranked defenses in rushing yards per game allowed entering that week. Many wondered if his production was tied to that fact and it’s something he proved wrong bulldozing his way against the Packers defense on Sunday.
What does that mean for Hubbard? With the trade deadline coming up on Tuesday, the Panthers will surely get more calls on the highly-paid back but I doubt Carolina would entertain any such offer. Hubbard is still the heart of this locker room and the team identity, even if he’s become a second fiddle in the backfield.
Hubbard finished the game with five carries for 17 yards on Sunday. Moving forward, the split we saw in Week 9 should remain consistent but I’d expect to see Canales get more creative with the ways he uses Hubbard in his limited opportunities.
One thing is clear, this team is winning games with Dowdle dominating the backfield and the smart approach is to continue riding that hot hand until it cools down.
Carolina Panthers News
NFL decides not to punish Jets defender for illegal move that injured Panthers QB Bryce Young in Week 7
New York Jets defensive lineman Jowon Briggs was not fined for his hit on Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young.
