The Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers' Week 6 matchup wasn't exactly headlining material...that was until former Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle told his former team to "buckle up" ahead of the showdown on Sunday.
Now, Rico isn't one to be loud and incendiary, so this was likely more of a light-hearted take at facing his former team after he just rushed for 206 yards and a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins.
But try telling that to Dallas defensive tackle Kenny Clark, who has a little message for Rico when he steps on the field on Sunday.
“He got to back it up,” Clark said. “Prove it. I'm not much into talking. They ain't played nobody like us, and we ain't played them. So, he'll watch the film and see what he playing against.”
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Should Cowboys be wary of Rico?
Considering the Cowboys' defense has already given up rushing totals of 158, 164, and 144 yards in three of the five games this season, yeah, I'd say they should.
However, it should be known that aside from his 206-yard game last week, Rico didn't have more than 10 carries and 32 yards in any of the previous four games.
Make of that what you will.
Still, given the state of Matt Eberflus' defense and how easily Breece Hall was able to rack up his 113 yards on 14 carries at MetLife Stadium, Dallas is going to have to be wary of Dowdle getting loose in the secondary.
Dallas knows Rico, and Rico knows Dallas, so a fascinating chess match awaits us.
But after talking, even if it was in good fun, we get the sense that the Cowboys' defense will want to make an example of Dowdle on Sunday.
Buckle up, indeed.
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