The Dallas Cowboys are struggling a year after winning the NFC East and clinching a playoff berth. They’ve won only three of their first seven games and have one victory against a team with a winning record. Their struggles in the ground game might have contributed to their losing record.
The Fox Sports NFL account on X/Twitter pointed out that through Week 8, the Cowboys are dead last in total rushing yards, yards per game, and yards per carry. Dallas has 519 rushing yards, translating to 74.1 yards per game and 3.4 yards per carry.
Rico Dowdle leads all Cowboys receivers with 59 carries for 246 yards. He also has the highest single-game total for Dallas this season, tallying 87 yards in their Week 5 road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Meanwhile, Ezekiel Elliott’s return to the Cowboys has been disappointing. He has only 149 rushing yards in seven games. That’s a far cry from the 1,000-yard seasons he had during his Pro Bowl years with Dallas to begin his NFL career.
Struggling on the ground
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 1, 2024
The Cowboys rank LAST in total rushing yards, yards per game, and yards per carry this season. pic.twitter.com/aeGskeLXwY
Last season, Tony Pollard already had 433 rushing yards in seven games, more than Dowdle and Elliott’s combined total. He finished with 1,005 yards, six touchdowns, and four yards per carry in his final season with the Cowboys before signing with the Tennessee Titans.
The current Cowboys backfield can start turning things around in Week 9 when they visit the Atlanta Falcons. However, their schedule doesn’t get easier because they will still have two games against NFC East rivals Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles.
-Lance Fernandez