Ezekiel Elliott Averaging Fewest Touches Per Game in NFL Career is the Sole Reason Cowboys Are Faltering
By Andy Loughmiller
The Dallas Cowboys were embarrassed on national television by the Buffalo Bills during their Thanksgiving Day game, their third loss in four games. At 6-6, the Cowboys somehow are clinging onto the top spot in the NFC East, but they look far less formidable than they did at the start of the year.
Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore was employed to breath new life into the Cowboys offense, but for some reason he has decided to decrease the role of star running back Ezekiel Elliott.
Ezekiel Elliott is averaging the fewest touches per game in his four #NFL seasons. Jerry Jones - who changed offensive coordinators in search of improvement and creativity - has begun to take notice.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) December 3, 2019
Elliott averaged 21.7 carries per game in his first three seasons in the NFL. That number has dropped to 18.9 in 2019, the lowest mark of his career. He carried the ball just 12 times in Dallas' loss to Buffalo, the sixth time he recorded fewer than 20 carries this season.
The Cowboys have the best passing offense in the league in terms of yards per game. That should be translating into more wins, however, the lack of a run game has limited the team's offensive potential.
The Cowboys are a different team when Ezekiel Elliott is involved more since he entered the league:
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 29, 2019
16 or more carries: 31-13 record
15 or fewer carries: 3-5 record
Elliott had 12 carries today for 71 yards. pic.twitter.com/WRqqUhxp7T
Elliott led the NFL in rushing yards in two of his first three seasons in the league. But after handing him a monster contract this offseason, the Cowboys have surprisingly reduced his role.
The Cowboys are still primed to make the playoffs out of the NFC East, but if they want to make even the slightest bit of noise in the postseason they need to start unleashing Zeke sooner than later.