Gaudy stats are empty numbers to Ezekiel Elliott and Dallas Cowboys without playoffs
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was talking about himself but he might as well have been speaking about his entire team.
With 1,072 yards on 246 carries, Elliott has topped 1,000 yards for the third time in four seasons.
It means something because yards are hard to come by in the NFL.
But it also means nothing to Elliott, who has two NFL rushing titles and was awarded the richest running back contract in NFL history before the season when he signed a six-year, $90 million extension.
Putting up gaudy numbers, let alone at least 1,000 yards, was expected.
But that was never the goal and it’s not why he plays.
“Win ball games. I’m trying to win a Super Bowl,” a frustrated Elliott said. “I really don’t care about that number. Who cares if you rush for 2,000 and you don’t even make the playoffs?”
And therein lies the rub for Elliott and the slumping Cowboys. In addition to Elliott topping 1,000 yards, quarterback Dak Prescott has passed for 4,122 and receiver Amari Cooper has 1,054 yards. It is the first time in franchise history that the Cowboys have boasted a 4,000-yard passer, a 1000-yard receiver and a 1,000-yard receiver.
That all those milestones were eclipsed in last Thursday’s 31-21 loss to the Chicago Bears is a fitting paradox to the empty feeling in the locker room of a team that has lost three in a row, four of their last five and seven of their last 10.
The Cowboys (6-7) are tied with Philadelphia Eagles atop the NFC East and find themselves on the brink of sliding out of playoff contention if they don’t reverse their fortunes over the last three games, starting Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
“Focus should already be at an all-time high,” Elliott said when asked if the Eagles tying the Cowboys for first place has increased the urgency. “It shouldn’t be a next level for your focus. We’re 6-7. Definitely not comfortable there and what they do really doesn’t change anything in this locker room.”
Elliott said the team is fresh and recharged after a long layoff following the Bears game and there should be no excuses. He has had the fewest carries through 13 games of his career and is prepared to take on a bigger load if necessary over the last three games.
“I think I definitely feel a lot better than in past years, it’s kind of with less touches and just being fresher,” Elliott said. “Whatever is in the game plan, whatever the team needs me to do to win, I’m going to go out there and do. They know I’m always ready to get as many touches as they need me to get.”
Elliott said the Cowboys have hope because they are not only still alive for the playoffs, but they also control their destiny. So the chance for redemption is there.
“I mean we’re in the playoffs,” Elliott said. “So I mean, I don’t think you really need much hope. I mean we’re not ‘in the playoffs,’ but with where we’re at right now, we would be in the playoffs if it ended today. Like I said, I wouldn’t say it’s the best place but we have a chance.”
And the attitude going forward is to treat every game like a playoff game.
“I think you can say that,” Elliott said. “I mean to even make it more simpler than that, we have to go win every week. Not to make it more complicated than it is. Just go out there and win a ball game.”
