Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer fully embraced the pun on Monday when responding to remarks made by former Dallas running back Rico Dowdle.
After his dominant 206-yard outing on Sunday, Dowdle delivered a playful warning to his old team — the Carolina Panthers’ Week 6 opponent.
“They got to buckle up,” Dowdle said. “I think they know for sure. They didn’t keep me there for five years for no reason.”
Schottenheimer Responds to Dowdle by Leaning Into Pun
Schottenheimer, like any great dad, leaned into the pun in response to Dowdle.
“We’re gonna bring our seatbelts, Rico,” Schottenheimer told reporters with a grin on his face. “We’ll buckle up. I can’t wait to see him, though.”
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer: “We’re gonna bring our seatbelts, Rico. We’ll buckle up.”
Dowdle Has Been Productive as Schottenheimer Notes
Dowdle joined the Panthers on a one-year deal worth $2.75 million in the offseason after the Cowboys allowed him to leave in free agency. Sunday’s matchup marked his biggest performance of the year, stepping up as RB1 while Chuba Hubbard was sidelined with an injury.
Through five weeks, Dowdle has been putting up impressive numbers, according to Sports Info Solutions:
- 4th in EPA per attempt (minimum 30 attempts)
- 5th in explosive play rate
- 4th in yards after contact per attempt
GettyCHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 05: Rico Dowdle #5 of the Carolina Panthers breaks a tackle by Jack Jones #23 of the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter in the game at Bank of America Stadium on October 05, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/Getty Images)
This is already shaping up to be one of the key matchups of the game, as the Cowboys’ defense must improve against the run. Through five weeks, they rank third-worst in missed and broken tackle percentage and 17th in EPA per attempt versus the run. A 20-point halftime lead over the New York Jets helped mask some of those issues, but they still allowed Breece Hall to rack up 113 yards on just 14 carries.
They’ll need to tighten up — and beyond the playful exchanges between Dowdle and Dallas, Schottenheimer is well aware of it.
“I think the main thing they want to do is run the football, whether it’s Hubbard or Rico,” Schottenheimer said.
Dak Prescott Receiving MVP Buzz
The Cowboys are 2-2-1 on the season and have been led by good quarterback play from Dak Prescott.
On Sunday, Prescott delivered a standout performance in the Cowboys’ 37–22 win over the Jets, throwing four touchdowns with no interceptions and posting a 127.4 passer rating.
The Dallas quarterback is receiving some MVP buzz, including from the Cowboy fans at Met Life Stadium Sunday.
“I mean, my ears work, so I heard it,” Prescott said with a grin. “But I didn’t hear it. To your answer, it’s Week 5. I don’t care. I don’t care if it was week 17. I’ve told y’all what I want to win, the team goals.”
Prescott has long made it clear that his ultimate goal is a championship — a mindset that helps him stay grounded even as he plays the best football of his career.
“To me, I didn’t play near as well of a game that I wanted to,” he said. “Too many incompletions. I got to look back and see why.”
Brian Schottenheimer Fires Back at Former Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle