Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot gashed the NFL’s number one defense. In fact, Elliot led the Cowboys to a victory over the Carolina Panthers. He ran the ball 20 times, gaining 143 yards and scoring three touchdowns. The two-time rushing champion put the Cowboys on his back this past Sunday by running for his first “hat trick” game of the season. The Panthers were outplayed and defeated, 36-28.
The Dallas Cowboys managed to rush for 245 yards after the Panthers only allowed 135 total rush yards within the first three games, per ESPN. Ezekiel Elliot and Tony Pollard were able to enforce their will on the Panthers and establish their presence early in the game.
“They have a solid defense,” commented Elliott, who recorded his highest yardage since 2018. “The Cowboys present various fronts and employ diverse strategies, so they like to mix things up. They haven’t faced an offense like ours this season.”
Although the Panthers had a difficult time stopping the offense of the Cowboys, this doesn’t take into account how exceptional Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold played. Darnold led the offense without the injured star Christian McCaffery; however, he had two rushing touchdowns and made history. He was the first NFL quarterback to have five touchdowns on the ground in the first four games.
In addition to his two rushing touchdowns, Darnold completed 26 out of 39 passes, threw for 301 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
“I believe it’s all about how defenses choose to approach us,” commented Darnold, who rushed six times for 35 yards. “When they present specific formations, we seize the opportunity and make the most of it.”
