3 Cowboys playoff X-Factors entering Wild Card Weekend
By Adam Weinrib
1. If Ezekiel Elliott Can Get Going…
Nothing about Ezekiel Elliott’s season indicates he’s had the kind of year Cowboys fans expect of him.
Elliott capped the distinctly uneven effort with one of his best games of the season Saturday night in Philly, though, rushing for 87 yards on 18 attempts and passing the 1,000-yard threshold in the process.
You already know the deeply-uneven story. Towards the top of the league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, but right near the bottom in yards per carry (29th in the NFL after play on Saturday with 4.2).
With Tony Pollard back and reportedly rejuvenated for next week’s showdown, combined with the addition of Jarwin to the picture, all eyes will be on Elliott to see if he can replicate something close to Week 18 when the postseason rolls around and “taking the air out of the ball” becomes the name of the game.
Some of that falls on Dak Prescott, too. When the lanes are there, the QB will have to hit them decisively.
Anything the Cowboys can do to bring the best version of their running game to January’s action, they’d better take full advantage of. Because if Dallas can’t pick up chunks on the ground, they won’t be nearly as threatening — and if they can’t ground-and-pound efficiently in frigid Lambeau, it might be the difference between an upset bid and another resounding question mark.
Week 18 was supposed to be the season’s end. Instead, it represented a fresh start for Elliott. Now, he must take advantage of the momentum he created.
