Dallas Cowboys’ defense gets a warning from an old friend they’re set to face in Week 6, and it’s a fair one
Former Dallas Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle is about to face his old team.
The Dallas Cowboys are still enjoying their dominant 37-22 win over the New York Jets, but a former friend of the franchise is already busy setting the table for a Week 6 matchup they can’t overlook.
Rico Dowdle, the former Cowboys running back who started 15 games for Dallas last year and rushed for 1,079 yards, is coming off a monster game against the Miami Dolphins. After posting 234 yards from scrimmage in the Carolina Panthers’ win in Week 5, Dowdle sent a warning to the Cowboys’ defense, which he will face next week.
“They gotta buckle up,” Dowdle told reporters. “I think they know for sure, I’ve been there for five years. They didn’t keep me there for five years for no reason. I definitely will say that. But looking forward to playing those guys next week, we’ll get to it.”
Dowdle’s big game included a 53-yard gain and a rushing touchdown in a goal-line situation. It was his breakout game in Carolina as he had entered Week 5 with 83 rushing yards in four games played.
Cowboys’ defense will need to be ready for Panthers
To be fair to Dowdle, it’s a fair warning. Though the Cowboys had their best defensive performance of the year in 2025 during Sunday’s win over the Jets, it wasn’t perfect. The quarterback pressure was there, hitting Justin Fields 14 times and adding five sacks in the process. However, the Jets ran on Dallas, averaging 6.5 yards per attempt and 144 rushing yards.
The Cowboys’ linebackers specifically have been challenged all season long, and improvement must be made on Matt Eberflus’ defense. With that being said, Dowdle and the Panthers offense will have to keep up with a high-powered Cowboys offense that didn’t skip a beat down CeeDee Lamb and four starting offensive linemen.
The Cowboys produced 416 yards of offense and moved the chains on six out of 13 third downs, while putting 37 points on the board. Dak Prescott is playing the best football of his career, and running back Javonte Williams is dominating defenses even with a banged-up offensive line.
The Cowboys opened as 3.5-point road favorites over the Panthers ahead of Week 6. To prove the oddsmakers right, they’ll need to mind Dowdle.
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Shake up coming?
