Bills Are Facing a Serious Crisis Ahead of Their Showdown with the Falcons

Quarterback Dak Prescott isn't giving Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle any bulletin-board material heading into the Dallas Cowboys' road game on Sunday. After rushing for a career-high 206 yards in a 27-24 Week 5 win over the Miami Dolphins, the former Cowboy said Dallas better "buckle up" in Week 6. Dak Prescott reacts to Rico Dowdle's comments Per Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News, on Thursday, Prescott said he texted Dowdle — whom he played with in Dallas from 2020-24 — to congratulate him after his career day. When asked about his comments, the QB said, "We have to [buckle up]. We're getting on a plane."  The Cowboys will fly approximately 943 miles from Dallas to Charlotte for Sunday's game. However, Prescott's amusing reply was his way of deflecting the question and not putting more pressure on the Cowboys' struggling run defense. Through five weeks, Dallas (2-2-1) ranks 23rd in the league in rushing yards allowed (127.4). The team couldn't even stop the New York Jets' ground attack during a 37-22 Week 5 road win. The 0-5 Jets logged 144 yards in that matchup. This could set the stage for another big day for Dowdle, who may start for a second straight game. Panthers starting RB Chuba Hubbard sat out in Week 5 because of a calf injury and didn't practice Thursday, via Darin Gantt of the team website. Whether Dowdle starts or not, expect him to keep running angry against his former team. "It's the attitude [Dowdle] ran with, the violence he ran with, finishing through arm tackles, something that we've been challenging our guys on," Panthers head coach Dave Canales said following the win over Miami. "When we get to that second level, have a plan for how you finish. I saw a great finish out of Rico today." Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer indicated Dowdle's violent running doesn't scare his players. On Monday, he said, "We're gonna have our seatbelts, Rico."  But if Dallas' defense can't buckle down against Dowdle and the Panthers (2-3), the Cowboys will count on Prescott staying hot. Through five games, he's playing at a league MVP level, ranking second in the league in passing yards (1,356) and third in QBR (76.5).