5 bold predictions for Cowboys against Washington Football Team

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 02: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts before a play in the third quarter of the game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on December 02, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 14: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys carries the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at AT&T Stadium on November 14, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /

3. Ezekiel Elliott will average over 5 yards per carry

Per usual, Elliott led the Cowboys last week with 13 rushing attempts. The unfortunate aspect of that reality for Dallas is that he struggled to gain any type of efficiency on the ground. The highly-paid rusher finished the matchup with a lackluster total of 45 rushing yards.

The Cowboys obviously want to see Elliott get going in a big way down the stretch. This isn’t a great matchup for him, but Dallas should try to avoid overworking Elliott in an effort to increase his energy levels. Look for Tony Pollard to lead the team in touches from the running back position this week.

That decrease in workload necessitates a jump in Elliott’s efficiency. Averaging 3.5 yards per carry for a second consecutive week just isn’t going to cut it. He needs to show some burst if he’s going to remain a big factor for Dallas as the postseason approaches.

The result of trying to make sure Elliott only touches the ball under ideal circumstances will have the desired effect. Expect him to average five or more yards per carry in what will represent a slight bounceback performance for the former Pro Bowler.

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