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Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle's end zone dance routine was not well received at Lambeau Field, where an ensuing penalty nearly proved costly in a 16-13 win over the Green Bay Packers.
Dowdle finished the game with 130 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries as the Panthers handed the Packers their first home loss of the season.
It was the second score that led to controversy on Sunday as Dowdle celebrated the 1-yard touchdown run by placing his hands on the back of his helmet and thrusting his pelvis twice in the direction of his gathered teammates in the end zone.
The dance, if you can even call it that, was a nod to a Key & Peele sketch in which a football player draws a penalty for doing a similar thrust. Only in on Comedy Central, it took three thrusts for the player to draw a flag, whereas Dowdle was penalized after just two against the Packers.
And because officials felt Dowdle's celebration was 'prolonged or excessive,' according to the wording in the NFL rulebook, the running back was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and the Panthers' extra point was pushed back 15 yards.
That would prove significant as Carolina kicker Ryan Fitzgerald's 48-yard attempt sailed wide, thereby allowing the Packers to tie the game at 13 on a 1-yard Josh Jacobs touchdown run and ensuing PAT later in the fourth quarter.
Rico Dowdle finished the game with 130 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, but it was his second end zone celebration of the day that drew a costly penalty flag
The dance was an ironic nod to a Key & Peele sketch in which a player draws a dumb penalty
Fortunately for the Panthers – and Dowdle – quarterback Bryce Young engineered a nine-play, 40-yard drive that ended with Fitzgerald's game-winning 49-yard field goal as time expired.
After improving to 5-4 on the season, Dowdle and Carolina head coach David Canales were seen embracing on the field.
Dowdle later joked with reporters he should have been allowed two thrusts, as the football player in the aforementioned Key & Peele sketch was.
'From my understanding, everything I've learned, we go over stuff like this every week,' Dowdle told reporters. 'I definitely think you're supposed to get two pumps. I hope I don't get fined.'
A number of fans certainly agreed.
'They penalized Dowdle for two thrusts!!' one fan joked. 'Everyone knows the rule is 3!!!!!!! No Fun League!!!!!!'
