DONALD WATKINS | THE CHARLOTTE POST


Carolina Panthers running backs Chuba Hubbard (30) and Rico Dowdle have struggled to produce on the ground attack late in the regular season. They’ll need to pick up the pace against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card game at Bank of America Stadium.

Rico Dowdle didn’t feel like a million bucks. 

In the closing moments of the regular season finale at Tampa Bay, the Carolina Panthers running back stood on the sideline, hands on hips, staring  at the rain-soaked field. 

Despite triggering a $1 million performance-based bonus for crossing the 1,000-yard barrier, Dowdle (1,076 yards on 236 carries) did not look like he was ready to celebrate after a 16-14 loss. 

The Panthers (8-9) dropped their second straight game, and their NFC South championship aspirations were momentarily threatened. A day later, the Panthers were awarded their first divisional title since 2015 after Atlanta topped New Orleans. 

Coach Dave Canales didn’t sound concerned about the Panthers, who finished in a three-way divisional tie with the Buccaneers and Falcons, earning a trip to the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2017 via tiebreaker. Canales said he was “grateful” Carolina qualified to host the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday. 

“I’m so grateful to have one more opportunity to get back to work,” he said. 

Carolina needs to revive ground attack 

One of the Panthers’ top priorities is reviving their running game. 

Led by Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard, the Panthers eclipsed the 100-yard mark in eight of the season’s opening nine weeks. 

A second half skid culminated Saturday when the Panthers averaged just 1.4 yards per attempt against the Buccaneers. On their first five first-down rushes, they collected 3 combined yards. 

“It’s a full group effort,” Canales said Monday. “(It) starts with me and the coaching staff, making sure that we have the right plan together for our guys.”

Like Dowdle and Hubbard demonstrated Nov. 30 when the Rams arrived in Charlotte with the NFC’s top record and left with a 31-28 loss. It was one of the Panthers’ signature performances, highlighted by 164 team rushing yards. 

It was a rare second half flash. Since Dowdle ran for 130 yards on 25 carries at Green Bay on Nov. 2, no Carolina back has reached triple digits. The outing also pinpointed the key to the Panthers’ run-first offense.  

In their eight wins, the Panthers averaged 127.6 rushing yards per game. In their nine losses, they averaged 88. 

“Again, it’s all of us, it’s making sure we’re running the right styles of runs for our group,” Canales said. “We cannot let people run through the line of scrimmage. Safeties, linebackers cannot run through the line of scrimmage.

From there, (it’s) challenging the backs (to) get that ball and run physical downhill.” 

Hubbard remained patient throughout much of the regular season to get that chance. 

After compiling a career-best 1,195 yards in 2024, Hubbard gained 511 this season. After losing his starting role to Dowdle in Week 7, Hubbard’s role devolved to third-down back and kick return responsibilities. 

More touches for Hubbard  

What’s most surprising was Hubbard’s failure to break a tackle during his 134 regular season carries. Over his previous four seasons, he was credited with 44 broken tackles, including 14 in 2024. 

Hubbard’s most productive outing this season developed during the Week 13 win against the Rams with 83 rushing yards and 41 receiving. During the final two games, both losses, Hubbard posted a combined 22 yards on nine carries. 


Canales, the primary playcaller, called himself out. 

“I love Chuba,” he said. “Gotta give him the ball some more. He’s a guy I really trust.” 

Quarterback Bryce Young said Hubbard’s lack of touches has not stunted his locker-room presence. 

“The way that he works. The way that he carries himself,” Young said. “He’s someone you always see in the locker room after practice, when a lot of people are gone; he’s playing on the ping-pong table or having a conversation that is not football related. That’s just the type of guy he is. He’s always been a cornerstone since I’ve been here and that hasn’t changed.” 

Said Canales: “Chuba is an absolute stud. He’s one of the leaders of the group. I lean on him to make sure we’re in the right place (and) we’re focused. He challenges the whole group with how he works and how he prepares.” 

Bursting on the scene with a 206-yard outing against the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 5, Dowdle followed it up a week later with a 183-yard performance against Dallas. The Asheville native has been slowed by a toe injury the past few weeks and averaged 42.6 yards per game during his final eight regular season starts. 

Against the Buccaneers last week, the Panthers registered just 19 rushing yards on 14 attempts. The lack of a running game played a role in the Panthers converting just 1-of-8 third down attempts. Dowdle, a pending free agent, also fumbled a flea-flicker attempt during the fourth quarter, stalling a comeback bid.

The Panthers will need more production.  

Dowdle has a million more reasons to deliver. 

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