ARLINGTON, Texas — Rico Dowdle is truly beginning to come into his own as the 2024 season rolls along. For the second time in as many games, the veteran running back has rushed for more than 100 yards, helping to stabilize the Dallas Cowboys' offense in much-needed fashion against both the New York Giants and the Cincinnati Bengals.
His outing in Week 14 on Monday Night Football marked the first time in his career that he's run for more than 100 yards in back-to-back games, also setting a new career-high with 131 yards rushed for against the Bengals, mostly having his way with them.
It was a gutting loss to the Bengals, to say the least, but Dowdle was a bright spot that can carryover into the coming battle on the road against the Carolina Panthers.
"Yeah, we got a six day week, a short week, but just sticking to our bread and butter," said Dowdle, also giving a ton of credit to the offensive line. " Those guys up front are doing a hell of a job these past couple of weeks. It starts with them and that's something that we harped on during the week.
"It's going to start in the trenches with the guys up front. They set the tone and they're opening the creases for me, and it is working out for us as an offense."
Credit is certainly more than justified for a group that has, again this season, battled a number of injuries that's led to a carousel of lineups, having lost perennial All-Pro guard Zack Martin for the season only to then see rookie third-round pick and starting center Cooper Beebe removed from the Bengals' affair with a concussion that could cost him the Week 15 trip to Carolina.
Brock Hoffman has been a revelation in the past few games, and T.J. Bass has proven himself a gamer, as Terence Steele finds his stride and Tyler Smith continues to do All-Pro things.
"I think we've got a good group of linemen," Dowdle added. "A lot of guys that don't start but have potential to be starters in the NFL. They came in and played well. T.J. Bass always played well when he came in, so those guys just prepared the right way and they've all been ready for when the opportunity came.
"I don't think it's been a real crazy dropoff from the guys that got injured and the guys that've been in there. Those guys prepared the right way, and it's worked out for them, too."
Two things are true in this scenario though, and the other is that Dowdle is playing career-best football in 2024.
It's a season that began with the Cowboys being hellbent on test driving their RB-by-committee approach, reuniting with former two-time NFL rushing champ Ezekiel Elliott to try and help that cause but, as the weeks rolled along, it was clear Dowdle was the most effective, efficient and productive of the bunch.
That led to head coach and offensive playcaller Mike McCarthy naming him "lead back" in November, and Dowdle has since taken every start leading into, and including, the matchup against the Bengals.
And, against Cincinnati's defense, he was once again putting all of his skills on full display — as both a runner, receiver and in pass protection.
But it's what he did on the ground that mattered most.
Dowdle finished the game averaging a whopping 7.3 yards per carry on 18 handoffs, including a 27-yard run in the first drive of the third quarter that led to an eventual touchdown toss from Cooper Rush to Brandin Cooks to knot the game at 17 points a piece.
"It speaks for itself —the eye in the sky," he said. "The thing I always say is, 'The eye in the sky don't lie.' The tape will speak for itself. I think I've definitely shown that I can go out there and carry the load, and that's that."
As he heads into a short week with the Carolina Panthers up next, you can bet Dowdle is aiming for the hat trick.
