Congratulations to Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott for taking home our Week 10 Ground-and-Pound Award with his 114 yard, 2 touchdown performance!
The Cowboys’ rookie sensation was key in their 35-30 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not only did he top 100 yards on the ground for the fifth time in seven weeks, Elliott also had 95 yards and 1 touchdown receiving and was essentially the man who slammed the door shut on a late-game Steelers comeback attempt. Zeke’s two fourth-quarter, dagger-to-the-heart touchdown runs were the reason the Cowboys walked away with a win. His 32-yard touchdown run with less than a minute left on the clock all but sealed the deal. Elliott told reporters after the game, “It parted like the Red Sea. All I had to do was run.”
The Dallas Cowboys’ investment in the offensive line is paying off tremendously now that they have a super-talented rookie running back running through holes as big as the parted Red Sea. The former-Ohio State star leads the league in total rushing yards AND yards after contact. You should give credit to the best offensive line in the league for all of the yards before contact. But give Zeke the credit for the yards after the contact. He is a bruising, physical runner that embraces contact, but has the vision and quickness of a smaller back.
On his second fourth-quarter touchdown run, Elliott passed the 1,000 yard mark for the season. He sits at 1,005 yards and is on pace for 1,787 yards for the year. Elliott has all but locked down the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award (vote here for who YOU think should win it), with his teammate, quarterback Dak Prescott, as the only legitimate threat. But Elliott is starting to garner some well-deservedMVP whispers. If he can come out strong against the league’s best rushing defense when the Baltimore Ravens come to town on Sunday, Zeke will prove how valuable he is (see what I did there?).
Here are the highlights from Ezekiel Elliott’s clutch Week 10 performance:
209 total yards.
3 TDs.
Including the game-winner.@EzekielElliott's Week 10 Highlights👇 https://t.co/khhxye4EpH— NFL (@NFL) November 14, 2016
(Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
(Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)