The Carolina Panthers do the little things and win

• The Panthers’ run defense is on edge: The run games of the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys were no match for Carolina’s unit in Weeks 5 and 6, respectively.

• Everything comes together in Carolina: Bryce Young is playing better, Rico Dowdle is wreaking havoc and the team’s defensive unit is a brick wall.

• The Carolina Panthers are winners of two straight after beating the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6: Dive into the PFF game summary for advanced stats, quick counts, early player grades and more!

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

The Carolina Panthers’ run defense opened the season as a perceived key target for opposing ground games after falling into several negative play scripts a year ago en route to an NFL-worst 37.4 PFF run defense grade. And during the first four weeks of the 2025 campaign, that thought became reality. The unit’s average run-game tackle came 5.24 yards down the field — the third-worst mark in the NFL.

Then Week 5 arrived and the group stymied the Miami Dolphins rushing attack. Carolina tackled Miami’s backs an average of 1.08 yards down the field. The result? A 27-24 win.

Maybe it was a fluke. Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams in Week 6 would be another test, as he had amassed the second-most yards after contact (326) in the NFL among qualifying running backs.

The Panthers’ run defense was once again up to the challenge. The unit limited Williams and the rest of the Cowboys’ run game to just 31 yards — all of which came after contact and more (the Cowboys logged 33 yards after contact) – and had a season-high in tackles for loss or no gain (six).

The result was another victory. The Panthers now sit at 3-3, just two wins shy of their 2024 total and already one win more than their disastrous 2023 campaign. There are a lot of factors at play: newcomer Tetairoa McMillan is serving as a much-needed reliable target for quarterback Bryce Young, the offensive line is starting to find its footing and running back Rico Dowdle is celebrating high tide.

But the little things make the difference between a tight loss and a tight win, and Carolina’s defense deserves a lot of credit for the team’s back-to-back three-point wins. The group did not record a missed tackle in run defense in either win.

Between Weeks 5 and 6, no team has a higher PFF run defense grade (among teams that played early Sunday).

*Numbers may change after Week 6 All-22 ratings

Bobby Brown III, A’Shawn Robinson, Derrick Brown and Christian Rozeboom each recorded multiple run stops against Dallas before earning All-22 ratings. Ten Panthers took part in the general action.

Meanwhile, Young has the eighth-best PFF grade (77.3, pending ratings) and has made the most big throws in the NFL over the past two weeks (six).

Everything seems to be coming together for Carolina, a winner of two straight. The Panthers look like a sneaky challenger in the NFC North, even if the Buccaneers appear to be in good control.