Cowboys fans have to wear this one.
The Dallas Cowboys overcame a sluggish start in the first quarter and have now scored 20 unanswered points against the Cleveland Browns. Dak Prescott has picked up right where he left off last regular season and CeeDee Lamb is in All-Pro form despite returning to practice less than two weeks ago.
While there was some concern that Prescott and Lamb would show some rust against a stingy Browns defense, is it really that surprising they are performing at a high level? Absolutely not. That's what great players do.
While Prescott, Lamb and Micah Parsons, who took over the game in the second quarter, have stolen the show, the story of the game thus far has been none other than Ezekiel Elliott.
Yes, you read that correctly. Donning No. 15 in his second stint with the Cowboys, Elliott has performed markedly better than what fans expected. He capped a strong first half with a short touchdown run to give Dallas a 14-3 lead.
Ezekiel Elliott shut Cowboys fans up with great game vs. Browns
On top of the touchdown, Elliott totaled 44 yards from scrimmage in the first half on nine touches (eight carries, one catch). The veteran RB proved early on that he was going to have a good day, as he hurdled Browns cornerback Denzel Ward on the first play from scrimmage.
The run was called back due to a holding penalty, but Zeke looked more spry than what was led on throughout the summer.
You wouldn't expect spry and Elliott to feature in the same sentence in the year 2024, but we are merely listening to what our eyes are telling us. The two-time rushing champ has made several tacklers miss and he had an excellent blitz pickup to save Prescott from a would-be sack.
Elliott's touchdown was only a three-yard run, but the Cowboys struggled mightily last season running in the red zone. Among 49 running backs who had at least 100 carries, Tony Pollard's six scores were tied for 17th, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Elliott is the more physical back than Pollard, but he is also more adept at bouncing off tackles and falling forward. While the 29-year-old isn't what he once was from an athletic standpoint, his vision and intelligence as a runner are still among the best in the business.
One game doesn't mean Zeke will be great all season. However, it is undeniable that he is still an impactful. If he turns in more performances like this, Cowboys fans will be eating crow for dinner a lot over the next five months.
Maybe the front office knew what it was doing after all.
