5 bold predictions for Cowboys against Buccaneers

1. Ezekiel Elliott won’t reach 50 rushing yards

Elliott might find a way to bounce back this year from a weak 2021 campaign, but he’s not going to get off to a promising start. Vita Vea can single-handedly stop most opponents from establishing an interior run game and he’ll certainly do that against an overmatched Dallas front.

The end result will see Elliott flounder. He’ll get plenty of touches in the first quarter, but the Cowboys coaching staff will quickly turn to Toby Pollard in an effort to trouble Tampa Bay’s perimeter. Elliott’s best chance to impact this game is as a quality receiving option for Prescott out of the backfield.

Cowboys fans and fantasy owners should be reasonable with their expectations for the highly-paid back in Week 1. He might get 10-15 carries but he won’t average more than four yards per carry. A final stat line of 12 carries for 40 yards feels like the right total for Elliott on Sunday night.

If Elliott can find a way to be a star in this game then it will provide the Cowboys with a clear path to victory. Unfortunately, that’s more of a dream than a plan for Dallas. His struggles against the Buccaneers will only increase chatter about his decline in the aftermath of an opening-week loss.