Earlier this week, we profiled Carolina Panthers’ head coach Dave Canales and the development track in his second year on the job. Canales’ coaching philosophy is that of a “player-led” team, affording ownership and accountability to the players, laying it all on the line on a weekly basis. This approach proved fruitful during a crucial moment in the Panthers’ Week 11 overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Panthers RB Rico Dowdle Calls His Shot
With 1:54 left in the fourth quarter, the Panthers trailed 19-24 but were moving toward Falcons territory and faced fourth-and-four from their own 41.
Quarterback Bryce Young, who set a franchise record for passing yards in a single game, throwing for 448 in the victory and was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week, found tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders for an 11-yard pickup to the Atlanta 38-yard marker. This moment showed the payoff of the culture Canales has been working to instill. Its path to fruition began on the sideline.
Panthers’ running back Rico Dowdle (84.1 PFSN RBi score) came into the game as the NFC’s leading rusher this season. For the divisional showdown, the star running back was Mic’d Up, offering an inside peek at how he called his own shot in one of the game’s biggest moments.
He made his case to the coaching staff to call a screen pass for him when they got a first down. Dowdle first approached running backs coach Bernie Parmalee with the specific call, exclaiming, “They [Falcons’ defense] bleeding.” He was ready to attack.
Dowdle then asked offensive coordinator Brad Idzik, “We get the first, can you go (play call)?” Idzik answered, “Yeah,” without checking his call sheet.
“It’s there. I promise.” Those were the words that Rico Dowdle said with such confidence to his offensive coordinator that contributed to the play being put into motion.
When Dowdle asked head coach Dave Canales if he had convinced him to use the play, Canales replied, “If they’re [Falcons defense] playing back. If they’re close to the line, I don’t like it,” meaning he would only approve if the Falcons’ defense was not crowding the line.
The Panthers saw the defensive look they hoped for, and the play was called.
Bryce Young took the snap from shotgun. Dowdle was in the backfield. Atlanta brought pressure off the edge, so Young attacked the open space with a quick screen pass to Dowdle in the flat. With blockers in front, Dowdle dashed down the sideline, avoiding a would-be tackle on his way toward the end zone.
Initially, Dowdle, Cade Mays, and Chandler Zavala celebrated euphorically after what appeared to be the go-ahead score. “I called that s**t”, Dowdle proudly proclaimed to his teammates.
During the jubilant jog back to the Panthers’ sideline, Dowdle found and pointed to Idzik, reminding him, “I told you! F***ing told you!”. Idzik’s response of “I listened! Let’s f***ing go!” told a story worth a million words.
The catch-and-run was ruled out of bounds at the Atlanta 10-yard line. Dowdle had barely brushed the boundary with his cleat. Three plays later, Young found receiver Tetairoa McMillan in the end zone to cap the drive and take the lead, then tacked on a two-point conversion to make it a three-point difference.
Atlanta answered immediately, sending the game into an extra period with a 45-yard field goal. However, the Panthers rode the momentum into a defensive three-and-out on the first possession of overtime.
Carolina took the subsequent drive 60 yards, setting up rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald to put an exclamation mark on the afternoon with a 28-yard game-winning field goal.
Dowdle finished the game with 19 carries for 45 rushing yards. He also added five receptions for 55 yards, with the longest of the day being the 28-yard screen pass.
The Carolina Panthers Are Trusting the Process
The players and coaches for the Carolina Panthers are proving that their methodology is working. They have trust in each other and believe that together they can achieve the ultimate goal each week.
After a 0-2 start, Mike Kaye for The Charlotte Observer detailed the relationship between Idzik and his running back tandem. Idzik discussed how Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard gave input on preferred plays and concepts to help the ground game.
Idzik praised the perspective from the backs, saying,
“When players come back to you and give you feedback on, ‘Hey, this concept makes my vision a little blurry. Hey, this concept is something that I have a comfort level (with). I’d love to add this if it fits within what the defense is presenting to us.’ So, the communication from the backs has been awesome.”
The communication was indubitably awesome at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta this past Sunday.
