Ezekiel Elliott is hands down the Dallas Cowboys MVP. In Week 1, Elliott ran for 140 yards and the Cowboys won. Week 2, the running back ran for 8 yards, on only 9 carries, and the Cowboy lost. So, isn’t it easy to see the Cowboys go as Elliott goes?
Well, it doesn’t feel the media, football award voters, or Jason Garrett agrees. During the 2016 season, Dak Prescott got a lot of praise for throwing only 4 interceptions, and many claimed because of that he was the reason why the Cowboys won. This reasoning also helped him win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, an award I felt Elliott should’ve won.
Prescott really wasn’t a game changer though, and it should be game changers that win Rookie of the Year awards. He was the epitome of a quarterback being a game manager. Something he was able to be because Elliott was there to put him in short 3rd down situations, and create big plays in big moments.
Think about it. Do you really believe Prescott can win you a game if you put the ball in his hands, and ask him to throw it 50 times? This is what the Cowboys had to do against the Broncos and it didn’t work. He couldn’t manage the game. He was constantly put in 3rd and long situations and couldn’t overcome those bad situations.
This isn’t to say he won’t be able to down the road. This is only his second year, and it is expected he will get better down the road. And down the road, who ever is coaching the Cowboys will be able to put the ball in Prescott’s hand to win a game.
However, that time isn’t now, and that’s why one has to admit that Elliott is the Cowboys’ MVP.
He sets up everything for a Cowboys victory. When he runs well, the Cowboys can run play action at will. When he runs well, the Cowboys’ beleaguered defense can stay off the field. When he runs well, the Cowboys are 13–3.
In games against the Giants in 2016, where Elliott was ineffective, but still had fair rushing days, the Cowboys lost.
If the Cowboys want to win now, they can’t wait for Prescott to develop, they must lean heavily on the legs of their star running back.
