Carolina rode a second-half surge to stun Miami 27-24 in Week 5, riding a ground-heavy attack and a sharp late rally. Bryce Young shook off early mistakes to finish 19 of 30 for 198 yards and two touchdowns, the second of which sealed it to Mitchell Evans. Rico Dowdle exploded for a career-best 206 rushing yards and a TD on 23 carries, while the 2025 draft class chipped in with McMillan leading with 73 receiving yards. Carolina’s defense bottled up De'Von Achane and Ollie Gordon II to 14 rushing yards on 13 carries, with Rozeboom and Moehrig piling up tackles. Miami’s Jaylen Waddle totaled 110 receiving yards and Minkah Fitzpatrick added an early pick on Young. The Panthers showed resilience and depth that could reshape their fantasy upside as they eye a favorable slate ahead.

Carolina roared back from a 17-0 hole behind a monstrous day from Rico Dowdle, who piled up 206 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown as the Panthers ran for 239 yards overall. The surge erased a slow start (5 rushing yards in Q1) and flipped the script against a Dolphins run defense that struggled all day.

Miami fought back with a late TD from Jaylen Waddle and a pair of near-hero plays from Tua Tagovailoa, but Carolina’s defense clamped down late and Raleigh-style clock-killing runs sealed the win. Darren Waller provided a spark for the Dolphins in the first half, while Waddle flourished with 110 receiving yards on six catches.

Miami couldn’t sustain its ground game (14 carries for 19 yards) and the defense yielded big rushes that kept the Panthers in control. The result stacks more questions about the Dolphins’ run defense and protection as the league pivots to a clash with the Chargers, who’ll bring a similar test on the ground.

On the horizon, the Chargers visit the Dolphins in a game shaped by injury updates: Slater out for the year, Alt dealing with a high-ankle sprain, and Mekhi Becton sidelined by a concussion. Jim Harbaugh’s run-first instincts get a nod here as teams search for balance after a week of dramatic comebacks.