CHARLOTTE — All week, running back Rico Dowdle calmly and confidently delivered a message to his former team.

"Buckle up," he told them, not with spite but more than once, in preparation for the Week 6 matchup between Carolina and Dallas.

On Sunday, Dowdle finished with a franchise record 239 yards from scrimmage, with 183 yards on the ground, and 56 yards receiving including a touchdown, in the Panthers 30-27 win over the Cowboys.

So what's Dowdle's message to his old team now?

"They weren't buckled up," he deadpanned.

It's hard to argue with him, given the production. Not only did he set the aforementioned franchise record, surpassing Christian McCaffrey who had two games of 237 scrimmage yards, Dowdle also became the first undrafted rookie player since 1970 to compile at least 20

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