Panthers News
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle enters Week 8 with momentum from three consecutive team victories. The Panthers face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in a game that could showcase the team’s dual-back approach.
Dowdle returned to a rotational role last Sunday against the New York Jets after two dominant performances as the featured back. He rushed 17 times for 79 yards and added two catches for 17 yards in the 13-6 victory. Chuba Hubbard started the game after missing two weeks with a calf injury. Hubbard carried 14 times for 31 yards and caught two passes for 24 yards.
The backs alternated possessions throughout the game. Dowdle played 33 snaps for a 46 percent share while Hubbard saw 38 snaps for 54 percent. Dowdle outgained Hubbard 96 yards to 55 yards in total yardage despite the smaller snap count.
Head coach Dave Canales implemented the rotation after Dowdle posted career performances in Weeks 5 and 6. Dowdle rushed for 206 yards against Miami and followed with 183 yards against Dallas. He set a Panthers two-game franchise record with 473 yards from scrimmage during Hubbard’s absence.
Carolina has won four of its last five games and sits at 4-3 entering Sunday’s matchup. The Panthers rank third in the league with 140.1 rushing yards per game. Their ground game success rate of 49 percent leads the NFL through seven weeks.
Buffalo presents a favorable matchup for Carolina’s running attack. The Bills allow 156.3 rushing yards per game and 5.8 yards per carry. Both figures rank among the worst in the league. Buffalo has surrendered nine rushing touchdowns through six games played before their Week 7 bye.
The Bills defense has struggled to contain opposing ground games throughout the season. Carolina’s coaching staff has studied how other teams deploy two productive running backs. The Panthers examined Detroit’s rotation of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery along with Seattle’s previous usage of Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet.
Dowdle signed with Carolina in March after rushing for 1,079 yards with Dallas last season. He became the first undrafted free agent in Cowboys history to reach 1,000 rushing yards. The 27-year-old has 551 rushing yards through seven games with the Panthers.
Quarterback Bryce Young suffered an ankle injury against the Jets and is listed as doubtful for Sunday. Andy Dalton is expected to start at quarterback. Dalton completed four of seven passes for 60 yards in relief duty last week.
Week 8 features six teams on bye including Detroit, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle, Arizona, Las Vegas and Jacksonville. The heavy bye week creates lineup challenges for fantasy football managers seeking replacement options at running back.
Carolina hosts Buffalo at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday. The game will air on FOX. The Bills enter with a 4-2 record after their bye week.
