GREEN BAY, Wis.— It didn't take long for Rico Dowdle to realize he and the Carolina Panthers were going to be able to do what they wanted on Sunday. He could tell from his first rush.

"I think early on I think my first run, it was like a duo. I went for like (9) yards," Dowdle said after the Panthers' 16-13 win over the top team in the NFC, of when he knew he'd have success.

The Panthers took the ball first against the Packers. The aggressive call was made due to the wind whipping in Lambeau Field, and they hoped the wind would be at their back in the fourth quarter. It was. But it also meant the Panthers had a chance to set a tone early in the game.

After an early flag and a short gain on screen garnered 1 yard, the Panthers were facing second-and-14 from their own 23-yard line. Bryc

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