Since the Atlanta Falcons week three matchup with the Carolina Panthers the Panthers have really gotten things going offensively, and it’s because they’ve started running the offense through running back Rico Dowdle, and earlier today The Morning Shift explained why stopping Dowdle is the key to the Falcons defense having success against the Panthers offense.
“The key to Carolina’s offense is Rico Dowdle. They want to go through him right now, it takes pressure off Bryce Young, it just kind of sets everything up.” Beau Morgan said
Through the first four weeks of the season Rico Dowdle had 28 carries for 83 yards, which averages out to seven carries a game for 83 yards, and the Panthers were 1-3. In the last six games where he’s become the focal point in the Panthers offense Dowdle has 121 carries for 705 yards, that averages out to about 20 carries a game for 117.5 yards per game. The Panthers record in the past six games, 4-2, and that includes a three game win streak.
In three of those six games the 2020 undrafted free agent out of South Carolina had 23 carries for 206 yards and a touchdown, 30 carries for 183 yards, and 25 carries for 130 yards and two touchdowns, so as he’s gotten more opportunities the better he’s been, and the better the Panthers have been, so if the Falcons defense is going to have success against the Panthers offense on Sunday the first step will be slowing down Rico Dowdle.