By Cameron Lee
October 5, 2025
Photo: Jacob Kupferman / AP
After struggling early in Sunday’s game against the Dolphins, with two turnovers, the Panthers fell behind 17-0 early in the second quarter following a Darren Waller touchdown pass. Carolina hadn’t overcome such a deficit since 2018, when Cam Newton led a 21-point fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Eagles. The performance ties a franchise record that had only been achieved three times previously in Panthers history: September 7, 2003, vs. Jacksonville; November 14, 2004, at San Francisco; and the 2018 game against Philadelphia.
For Panthers fans, used to seeing slow starts in recent years, doubt filled the stadium — but Asheville native and former Gamecock Rico Dowdle, aided by the offensive line, put those fears to rest, rushing for 206 yards — just four shy of the franchise record of 210 yards set by DeAngelo Williams in 2012 against the Saints.
“We had a great game plan, Rico would be up here and first off tell you, you know, the offensive line did an excellent job of getting movement to get the run started,” Dave Canales said postgame. “But it’s the attitude that he ran with, the violence that he ran with finishing through arm tackles, something that we’ve been challenging our guys on.”
Dowdle echoed the sentiment: “Those guys up front did a great job of opening it up, allowing me to… run through those arm tackles and get to the second level.”
The Dolphins’ first three drives ended with scores, including touchdown passes to De’Von Achane and Darren Waller. Before the Waller touchdown drive, Bryce Young threw a sloppy pass to Xavier Legette that Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted — deflating the stadium while energizing the Dolphins fans in attendance.
What a way to convert on 4th down
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/cZjioww39O
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 5, 2025
But the Panthers responded with a methodical 12-play, 76-yard drive, featuring two strong runs up the left side of the Dolphins’ defense and a remarkable 4th-down scramble by Young to complete a 20-yard pass to Tetairoa McMillan. The drive culminated in a seven-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Legette, marking his first score since Week 9 of last season, following a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the last two games.
What a grab by XL for the TD
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/wnpPmfqPS8
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 5, 2025
“I truly believe that Xavier, as he settles in and just does his part, when the ball came to him, he made the plays, and that’s all we need from him,” said Canales. “I’m so glad Bryce gave him a shot right there… Xavier had the single [coverage] we needed to win big, and he did on his touchdown.”
The Panthers capped the half with an 11-play, 59-yard drive ending in a 35-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald, though three penalties kept a touchdown out of reach.
Rico showing off the wheels
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/9cu9gMpSiD
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 5, 2025
Dowdle ignited the team off the jump in the second half with a 53-yard run, setting up another field goal by Fitzgerald. Carolina’s defense dominated on the ground, holding the Dolphins to just 19 rushing yards on 14 carries and recording a season-high in sacks, with Derrick Brown, Patrick Jones, and A’Shawn Robinson all bringing down Tua Tagovailoa.
Pat Jones takes him down
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/hOScXNoAMR
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 5, 2025
Carolina’s next seven-play, 85-yard drive gave them their first lead, highlighted by a 43-yard run and a touchdown on third-and-goal by Dowdle. The Dolphins answered with a 46-yard strike from Tagovailoa to Jaylen Waddle, who beat Mike Jackson one-on-one after Jackson briefly exited with a minor injury earlier in the game.
Rico breaking free
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/BiMwoeEeSw
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 5, 2025
Still, the Panthers’ scoring drives showcased their resilience late in the game. Young connected with Legette for a 24-yard gain and with Jimmy Horn Jr. on a critical fourth-down conversion for 17 yards, setting up a four-yard touchdown to Mitchell Evans with 1:59 left on the clock, ultimately sealing the win.
Jimmy Horn Jr.’s crucial catch on 4th and 5 for 17 yards, leading to the game-winning touchdown! pic.twitter.com/tTLleZ3Kd1
— CLTure® ( culture ) (@CLTure) October 5, 2025
“He’s a rookie, but you wouldn’t know by how he prepares,” Young said postgame about Horn Jr. “I trust everyone based on, you know what we’re getting around coverage. It’s one-on-one to win the game, you know, man coverage, and I had all the confidence in the world for him to do exactly what he did.”
For fans watching on TV, it was an electrifying game, with Hornets play-by-play announcer Eric Collins calling his first official NFL broadcast. In the stadium, what began as a familiar slow start turned into a glimmer of hope that this Panthers team can overcome early deficits and potentially contend for the playoffs.
Announcer Eric Collins was ELECTRIC on the call for @MiamiDolphins vs. @Panthers 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/hsCzZxtsdW
— NFL (@NFL) October 5, 2025
The Panthers take on the 2-2-1 Cowboys next at Bank of America Stadium — Dowdle’s former team:
“I’ve always played with a chip on my shoulder, and you know, it’s just the nature of the business that I didn’t end up back in Dallas. I’m here now with a new team, and I’m happy,” he said. “They’ve got to buckle up… looking forward to playing those guys next week.”
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