5 bold predictions for Cowboys against 49ers

4. Ezekiel Elliott won’t get to 50 yards rushing

Elliott was a prominent part of Dallas’ victory over Philadelphia with 87 rushing yards on 18 carries. He showed more signs of life in the regular-season finale than he had in previous weeks, but it’s still hard to envision him having a big day against San Francisco’s talented front-seven.

In a perfect world, Kellen Moore and his offensive staff would love to get Elliott going early to help set up the throw game. The 49ers aren’t going to allow that to happen. They keenly understand that stopping the Cowboys’ ground game is fundamental for their chances of success.

That means Dallas fans should expect to see Elliott get a lot of carries during the first quarter even if his rushing average isn’t up to par. Naturally, the Cowboys will throw the ball more and more as the game goes along according to the success they experience through the air.

Elliott might get between 15 and 20 carries in this postseason affair but he isn’t going to get rolling. Don’t expect him to get anywhere near 100-yards on the ground. In fact, finishing under 50-yards is a smart, bold prediction against the San Francisco defense.