ARLINGTON — It took a long time for the Cowboys’ running game to become a reliable part of this team.
The Cowboys used the acceptable excuse of being down two or more scores for not using the run game more often. We heard a flimsy narrative in training camp that Ezekiel Elliott was the lead back, when in reality Rico Dowdle was going to get the majority of the carries.
Dowdle finally showed what he can do given the attempts coach Mike McCarthy sought for him on Thanksgiving Day.
Dowdle rushed for 112 yards on 22 carries in the 27-20 win over the Giants on Thursday. Dowdle’s first career 100-yard rushing game was also the first for the Cowboys since Tony Pollard in 2023.
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“Yeah, I’ve been firm on that since the beginning,” Dowdle said of getting more carries. “With the flow, getting that rhythm I think it’s shown for itself definitely.”
The Cowboys went 25 regular season games without having a running back reach 100 yards in a game.
On Thursday, the Cowboys reached 100 yards without All-Pro guard Zack Martin and they lost rookie left tackle Tyler Guyton. So Brock Hoffman (guard) and Chuma Edoga (left tackle) took over for the injured. Edoga replaced Guyton during the second possession of the game.
“That’s our mantra, that’s something that runs deep within our room,” left guard Tyler Smith said. “It’s just that resiliency, that commitment to excellence and I think every dude embodies that five is one. If any of us go down not only do I have my brother’s back, he has mine. There is no drop-off. Straight domination.”
The Cowboys won this game, their first home victory of the season, because of their defense and their ability to control the run game. McCarthy mentions time of possession as something of importance because it means if you’re winning the clock, you’re controlling the game. Dallas held the ball for 31:36 compared to 28:24 for the New York Giants.
What was vital was using Dowdle in key moments.
He produced the longest run by a Cowboys running back this season with a 22-yard gain and he also picked up runs of 18, 17 and 13 yards. Of the 10 longest plays of the day, Dowdle had four of them.
There was a sequence in the fourth quarter with the Cowboys holding a 27-13 lead when McCarthy called four consecutive run plays for Dowdle.
On a 2nd and 8 from the Cowboys 33, Dowdle picked up 18 yards.
But McCarthy messed everything up with three consecutive passes over continuing to give the ball to Dowdle.
Or somebody else.
The Giants got the ball back but had to punt, then McCarthy went back to Dowdle as he should have. There was a questionable play call on 3rd and 7 from the Giants 41, when quarterback Cooper Rush was in the shotgun and we saw a toss to Dowdle when maybe we needed to see him run between the tackles.
And after the Giants cut the deficit to 27-20 with 2:18 left, McCarthy gave the ball back to Dowdle. On third and short, however, Rush found receiver Brandin Cooks on an out route for three yards to clinch the game. Cooks had to make a diving catch, reaching with both arms to secure the pass.
Rush took a couple of knees to end the game, but it left you scratching your head about keeping things easy for the Cowboys.
Thanksgiving Day was about giving the ball to Dowdle late in the game and if he got tired, bring in Elliott or hand off to Hunter Luepke.
But run the football.
It was one of those games where it was working.
“I really thought we were in a good rhythm the first three series, kind of hit the skids a bit after that, but didn’t convert on 4th and 1,” McCarthy said.
Let’s talk about that 4th and 1 in the second quarter. They handed the ball off to Luepke and he got stopped for no gain.
Sometimes you got to give the ball to Elliott. Or Dowdle.
It’s OK; it didn’t cost the Cowboys a game. If anything we learned when the run game is flowing, this football team gives itself a chance to win games.
“But I think it was clear evidence of what [Dowdle] can do when he gets to touch the ball a lot,” McCarthy said. “He’s fought through the injury challenges early in his career, and you’re finally getting to see what we see everyday with Rico. This team needs that. We need to run the football not only for our offense but for our football team.”
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This is my 15th year covering the Dallas Cowboys. I've covered four head coaches and started covering the beat in Bill Parcells' last season when Tony Romo took over in 2006. And now I'm in the midst of the Dak Prescott/Micah Parsons era.
