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For the first time since Week 10 of the 2021 season, the Carolina Panthers are sitting at a .500 record. And yes, that’s an accomplishment of sorts in the current state of the organization.
They got there on Sunday, thanks to a 30-27 victory over the visiting Dallas Cowboys. Their walk-off triumph now marks their second straight win and the third in their last four outings.
And now, as we dive into the latest sets of power rankings, it’s time to buckle up for the ride up!
Here’s where the Panthers stand in the NFL landscape after Week 6 . . .
USA Today
Rank: 19 (+4)
Author: Nate Davis
Take: In case you were wondering, RB1 Chuba Hubbard is in the first season of a four-year, $33.2 million extension – though it only has $4.5 million guaranteed after 2025. Hard to say what it means for revelatory replacement Rico Dowdle, who’s getting $2.8 million this year, but stands to reason Hubbard will at least be back in the mix soon.
NFL Media
Rank: 21 (+3)
Author: Eric Edholm
Take: The Panthers have now won two straight in the fourth quarter, and three of their past four overall. It has been a bit of a bumpy ride to this point, but Carolina finds itself in decent shape ahead of a game at the winless Jets. In fact, this is the first time the Panthers have been back at .500 this late in the season since 2021. You have to credit Bryce Young for how he’s bounced back the past few weeks, really taking ownership of the offense. He also has a true go-to guy now. Tetairoa McMillan made up for a drop that led to an interception, catching his first two NFL TD passes in the win. Rico Dowdle also has made a shocking statement in the backfield, with a stunning 473 yards from scrimmage the past two games. How high can the Panthers fly? This will be a fascinating team to follow the next few games.
ESPN
Rank: 21 (+3)
Author: David Newton
Take: A big reason the Panthers put up historically bad numbers against the run last season was because they lost Derrick Brown to a season-ending knee injury in Week 1. His presence, along with free agent additions to the front seven, has been a big reason Carolina allowed only 50 rushing yards in the past two games combined. As Coach Dave Canales has said repeatedly, everyone up front thrives off Brown. Meanwhile, Carolina’s rushing offense has thrived since moving Rico Dowdle into the lead role. He’s the second player with at least 200 scrimmage yards in each of his first two starts with a franchise since the 1970 merger, joining Billy Sims in 1980 with the Lions, per ESPN Research.
Pro Football Talk
Rank: 20 (+4)
Author: Mike Florio
Take: Rico Dowdle is the best free-agent bargain of the year.
CBS Sports
Rank: 21 (+3)
Author: Pete Prisco
Take: At 3-3, they have to be happy where they are right now. The run game is impressive, even if it did come against two of the worst run defenses the past two weeks.
Sports Illustrated
Rank: 21 (+5)
Author: Conor Orr
Take: Rico Dowdle had 84 yards from scrimmage leading into the last two weeks of the season and is now one of the five leading backs in the NFL in terms of total scrimmage yards. While playing Miami and Dallas in back-to-back weeks doesn’t hurt, who on earth cannot possibly love this brewing subplot to the 2025 season?
The Athletic
Rank: 21 (+3)
Author: Chad Graff and Josh Kendall
Take: In the last two weeks, Dowdle has had two of the season’s top four fantasy performances by a running back. He had 183 rushing yards Sunday against the Cowboys and led the Panthers in receiving with 56 yards and a touchdown. He had 206 rushing and 28 receiving yards a week ago against the Dolphins. Not bad for a former UDFA who had an average draft position of 158 this year and started the season as the Panthers’ backup.
Bleacher Report
Rank: 22 (+4)
Author: Gary Davenport
Take: Don’t look now, but the Carolina Panthers are a .500 football team six weeks into the regular season. It’s first time Carolina has had as many wins as losses since the team was 5-5 in 2021.
Thanks to a second straight massive outing from running back Rico Dowdle (whose 239 scrimmage yards in Week 6 and 473 scrimmage yards the past two weeks are both franchise records), the Panthers snuck past the Dallas Cowboys and are now undefeated at home.
Quarterback Bryce Young still isn’t posting big numbers—Week 6 was the fifth time in six games he has failed to throw for 200 yards. But he isn’t making a lot of mistakes with the ball. Rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan caught two touchdown passes and the Carolina defense under 300 yards of offense.
Are the Panthers good? Maybe not. But there’s no denying that they are getting better.
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