Ezekiel Elliott carries 100-yard rush load for 2nd straight week

It might as well have been a home game for the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. The blue, silver and white clad crowd celebrated their team’s victory by chanting Ezekiel Elliott’s name as he left the field.

Elliott acknowledged the chants, looking up and spreading his arms wide.

“Oh, I love it. I love the Zeke chants,” Elliott said. “That’s something I’m used to from Ohio State. Actually, in the national championship [two years ago] when we won, the last touchdown I scored we were on the goal line, and everyone knew I was going to get the ball, and the whole AT&T Stadium was chanting ‘Zeke’ so that’s something I’m used to. I love it.”

Elliott deserved the adoration after rushing for 138 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries in the Cowboys’ 24-17 victory.

“He’s got good juice, got great timing,” Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said. “ I think these last two weeks, you’re seeing his trust in timing, the patience that you’re always talking about, when do you need to put your head down and hit it, and when do you need to slow and let it open up. That’s the feel. That’s the genius in the running back.

“He’s explosive. He’s a powerful back, and then he’s tough to tackle one-on-one once he gets through that front line.”

Elliott’s performance served as an encore, following the 30 carries and 140 yards he had in last week’s victory over the Chicago Bears. It marked the fourth time in team history a rookie running back had gained more than 100 yards in consecutive games.

“It’s definitely big for me,” Elliott said. “It’s definitely big to get another 100-yard game. When I’m running behind those big guys like I have in front of me, I would expect any back to be able to do that. They’re the best in the league.”

Elliott, the fourth overall pick, had 12 carries for 85 yards after 49ers All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman left the game with an injury in the second half. Elliott had runs of 23, 17 and 26 in the second half.

But Elliott doesn’t buy Bowman’s absence as the reason for his breaking loose.

“He’s a great player,” Elliott said. “He definitely is. But I think from the rip I could see we were going to have a big day. From the first run to the last run, I could tell that we were doing a good job up front. As the game goes on and you tire down that defense, that’s when the big ones are going to pop.”

After a slow start to his career — 134 yards on 46 carries — Elliott now is off and running. His 412 yards in four games leads the league.

“Just working on being consistent with my pace and my landmarks and my reads. That’s just all it was,” Elliott said. “I came from a spread offense that was a little bit different. You saw today, I came from the offense we played against today. I really wasn’t used to running from under center. I wasn’t used to running outside zone. It took me a while to get used to. It took me a while to get comfortable. I think I’m coming along great. This O-line is definitely rolling.”

This story was originally published October 2, 2016 at 9:45 PM with the headline "Ezekiel Elliott carries 100-yard rush load for 2nd straight week."