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Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys take advantage of NaVorro Bowman's absence
1:34 AM CT
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
SANTA CLARA -- Maybe Ezekiel Elliott would have had more than 100 yards if San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman did not get hurt in the third quarter Sunday.
He was on his way to a good game before Bowman left with a leg injury, but it quickly turned into an outstanding game for the Dallas Cowboys’ rookie running back.
It was like a quarterback picking on a rookie cornerback new to the game.
The Cowboys picked on Bowman’s replacement, Nick Bellore, with Elliott. He carried the ball on six of the next eight plays after Bowman left, ripping off a 23-yard run on the first play and ending it with a 1-yard run for a touchdown for the Cowboys’ first lead.
Without Bowman, Elliott carried the ball 12 times for 85 yards. He finished the game with 23 carries for 138 yards.
“We were aware (of Bowman’s absence) but we were going to run our game plan against the best 11 they put out there,” Elliott said. “We can’t control who they put out there.”
Elliott joined Calvin Hill (1969), Julius Jones (2004) and DeMarco Murray (2011) as the only Cowboys rookies to have back-to-back 100-yard games. He ran 30 times for 140 yards in the Cowboys’ Week 3 win against the Chicago Bears.
He is only the fifth back in team history to have back-to-back games with more than 125 yards. Emmitt Smith did it five times, Murray four, Tony Dorsett three and Jones once.
“We are a very physical team,” Elliott said. “We wear guys down toward the end of the game.”
The Cowboys have been able to run the ball even with Tyron Smith missing the last two games and La’el Collins missing the last six quarters with Chaz Green and Ronald Leary filling in.
“If we can get them covered up up front, he’s going to make some plays,” right guard Zack Martin said.
The historical significance of back-to-back 100-yard games is not lost on Elliott, but he chose to do what every good running back does and credit his offensive line.
“It’s definitely big for me,” Elliott said. “It’s big getting another 100-yard game, but when I run behind the big guys I’ve got in front of me, I would expect any back to do that. They’re the best in the league. Even though we’ve got two backups in, they’re not playing like backups. They can start in a lot of other places.”
1:34 AM CT
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
SANTA CLARA -- Maybe Ezekiel Elliott would have had more than 100 yards if San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman did not get hurt in the third quarter Sunday.
He was on his way to a good game before Bowman left with a leg injury, but it quickly turned into an outstanding game for the Dallas Cowboys’ rookie running back.
It was like a quarterback picking on a rookie cornerback new to the game.
The Cowboys picked on Bowman’s replacement, Nick Bellore, with Elliott. He carried the ball on six of the next eight plays after Bowman left, ripping off a 23-yard run on the first play and ending it with a 1-yard run for a touchdown for the Cowboys’ first lead.
Without Bowman, Elliott carried the ball 12 times for 85 yards. He finished the game with 23 carries for 138 yards.
“We were aware (of Bowman’s absence) but we were going to run our game plan against the best 11 they put out there,” Elliott said. “We can’t control who they put out there.”
Elliott joined Calvin Hill (1969), Julius Jones (2004) and DeMarco Murray (2011) as the only Cowboys rookies to have back-to-back 100-yard games. He ran 30 times for 140 yards in the Cowboys’ Week 3 win against the Chicago Bears.
He is only the fifth back in team history to have back-to-back games with more than 125 yards. Emmitt Smith did it five times, Murray four, Tony Dorsett three and Jones once.
“We are a very physical team,” Elliott said. “We wear guys down toward the end of the game.”
The Cowboys have been able to run the ball even with Tyron Smith missing the last two games and La’el Collins missing the last six quarters with Chaz Green and Ronald Leary filling in.
“If we can get them covered up up front, he’s going to make some plays,” right guard Zack Martin said.
The historical significance of back-to-back 100-yard games is not lost on Elliott, but he chose to do what every good running back does and credit his offensive line.
“It’s definitely big for me,” Elliott said. “It’s big getting another 100-yard game, but when I run behind the big guys I’ve got in front of me, I would expect any back to do that. They’re the best in the league. Even though we’ve got two backups in, they’re not playing like backups. They can start in a lot of other places.”
