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Panthers Overcome 17-Point Deficit to Defeat Dolphins in Thrilling Comeback
5 Oct
Summary
- Bryce Young throws game-winning TD pass in final minutes
- Rico Dowdle rushes for 206 yards, matching franchise record
- Dolphins led by 17 points in the first half before Panthers rallied
On Sunday, the Carolina Panthers staged a dramatic comeback to defeat the Miami Dolphins 27-24 in a closely contested NFL matchup. The game started with the Dolphins jumping out to a 17-0 lead in the first half, thanks to a pair of touchdown passes from QB Tua Tagovailoa. However, the Panthers refused to be deterred, and they slowly chipped away at the deficit.
Late in the second quarter, Panthers rookie QB Bryce Young found wide receiver Xavier Legette for a 7-yard touchdown, cutting the Dolphins' lead to 17-7. Just before halftime, a field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald brought the Panthers within 17-10. The momentum continued to shift in the second half, as running back Rico Dowdle broke free for a 53-yard run, setting up another field goal to make it 17-13.
In the fourth quarter, Dowdle punched in a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Panthers their first lead of the game at 20-17. But the Dolphins quickly responded, as Tagovailoa connected with Jaylen Waddle for a 46-yard touchdown pass, putting Miami back on top 24-20 with under 5 minutes remaining.
That's when Bryce Young led the Panthers on a game-winning drive, capped off by a 4-yard touchdown pass to Mitchell Evans with 1:59 left on the clock. The Dolphins had a chance to retake the lead, but a sack by Patrick Jones II and a pass interference penalty on the final drive sealed the victory for the Panthers.
Dowdle's 206-yard rushing performance matched the second-highest single-game total in Panthers franchise history, while Young overcame a shaky start to throw for 198 yards and two touchdowns. The win improved the Panthers' record to 2-3 on the season and kept them undefeated at home.
