NFL GAME RECAP

Elliott, Cowboys run roughshod over Packers

The Sports Xchange

October 16, 2016 at 10:09 pm.

Oct 16, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) carries the ball as Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Perry (53) tackles in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. Photo Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Oct 16, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) carries the ball as Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Perry (53) tackles in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. Photo Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Dallas Cowboys entered Sunday with the NFL’s top-ranked rushing attack. The Green Bay Packers entered the game with the NFL’s top-ranked rushing defense.

Something had to give.

And it was the Packers who gave — and gave and gave and gave. The Cowboys ran roughshod, piling up 191 rushing yards en route to a 30-16 victory.

The Cowboys were averaging 155.2 rushing yards per game. The Packers had given up 171 rushing yards in four games — the second fewest in the NFL since at least 1933.

Ezekiel Elliott, the fourth overall pick of this year’s draft, rushed for 157 yards by himself, becoming the first rookie in NFL history to top 130 rushing yards in four consecutive games.

“We are a physical team,” Elliott said. “A lot of teams can’t keep that physical presence for four quarters. We aren’t going to back down, no matter what front they bring. So just the attitude that we have wears those guys down.”

The Cowboys wasted no time. After Elliott gained 2 yards on the first play, rookie quarterback Dak Prescott faked to Elliott to set up a 14-yard completion to tight end Jason Witten. Elliott then ran for 11 and caught a pass for 15 to set up the opening touchdown, a 1-yard pass to receiver Cole Beasley.

Late in the first half, the mere threat of Elliott got the Cowboys in position for a huge touchdown drive. With Dallas backed up at its 3, two consecutive runs by Elliott set up a third-and-1. With all eyes on Elliott, the Cowboys ran an end-around to receiver Lucky Whitehead for a gain of 26. Two long passes from Prescott, including a 20-yard touchdown to Bruce Butler, gave the Cowboys a 17-6 lead at halftime.

Elliott had 60 rushing yards at halftime — the Packers had given up 42.8 per game to start the season. He was only getting started. On Dallas’ first play of the third quarter, he burst through a hole for 25 yards to help Dallas kick a field goal. Later, on another third-and-1, Prescott used play-action and hit Whitehead for a gain of 35, the key play of a drive that extended the lead to 27-9. Finally, late in the fourth quarter, Elliott had a 29-yard run to help put the game away.

“I need to thank my offensive line,” Elliott said. “Those guys worked their tails off. They make it easy for me.”

And hard on defenses. The Packers entered the game allowing 1.99 yards per carry — the NFL’s best through four games in 60 years and almost a full yard better than any team this season. But Dallas averaged 5.8 yards per carry in a dominating performance.

“When you’re playing against a good team like that, you can’t give them an inch (or) they’ll take it a mile. And as you saw, that’s what happened today,” Packers defensive tackle Mike Daniels said.