The Carolina Panthers ended a three-game losing streak against the Dallas Cowboys with a dramatic 30–27 victory at home, sealed by a game-winning 31-yard field goal by kicker Ryan Fitzgerald as time expired. Led by quarterback Bryce Young and running back Rico Dowdle, the Panthers defeated the Cowboys in a high-energy game, showing offensive firepower and taking advantage of the Cowboys' struggling defense.
Performances by Bryce Young and Rice Dowdle
Bryce Young had a standout performance, completing 17 of 25 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns. His precision and poise were evident as he connected with key playmakers, including rookie Jalen McMillan and Dowdle.
Rico Dowdle, on the other hand, was the real star of the game, racking up a whopping 239 all-purpose yards, a franchise record for a single game. Dowdle ran for 183 yards on 30 carries and added four receptions for 56 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown catch in the second half.
His versatility overwhelmed the Dallas Cowboys defense, which struggled to contain him. After a 206-yard performance in Week 5, Dowdle's consecutive dominance has cemented his role as a key part of the Carolina Panthers' offense.
What happened in the game?
The game was a back-and-forth battle, with Carolina outgaining Dallas 410-261 in total yards and dominating first downs 27-15. Despite trailing 17-13 at halftime, the Panthers' relentless offense and defensive adjustments turned the tide in the second half.
The first half
The Dallas Cowboys started with a three-and-out, allowing the Carolina Panthers to strike first with a field goal after Dowdle's effective runs. The Cowboys responded with a field goal of their own, but the momentum of the game changed when Young threw an interception. Cowboys' Donovan Wilson capitalized, and a penalty on Dowdle for unnecessary roughness gave Dallas excellent field position. Dak Prescott then found Hunter Luepke for a 4th and 1 touchdown, putting Dallas ahead 10-3.
Carolina answered with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Young to rookie Jalen McMillan, tying the game at 10–10. Dallas regained the lead with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Prescott to Jake Ferguson. Late in the half, a chaotic Panthers drive saw Young's pass to Xavier Legette lead to a lateral and fumble by Dowdle. After the officials cleared up the legal play, Fitzgerald's 55-yard field goal closed the gap to 17-13 at halftime.
The second half
Carolina Panthers exploded out of the break, with Young connecting on a 34-yard pass to rookie Jimmy Horn and a 36-yard touchdown to Dowdle, giving the Panthers a 20-17 lead. The teams traded blows, but Carolina's defense kept Dallas' top offense in check, limiting them to 261 yards. Fitzgerald's 31-yard field goal as time expired sealed the 30-27 victory.
