5 bold predictions for Cowboys against Bengals

4. Ezekiel Elliott will get 25+ carries

McCarthy might not be the best coach in the NFL, but even he will understand the need to try to lean heavily on his ground game in Prescott’s absence. That will give Elliott a big chance to prove he’s still capable of being a Pro Bowl-caliber running back over the next several weeks.

Yes, Pollard is going to get his share of work as well, but Elliott is the workhorse in this offensive backfield. The problem for Dallas is that they’re going up against a Bengals front that limited Pittsburgh to just 75 rushing yards on 22 attempts in their Week 1 encounter.

Cincinnati is going to stack the box against the run early in this game and dare Rush to beat them with his arm. The key for Dallas will be to stay the course and use Elliott as a sort of battering ram. Popping one of two big runs after getting to the second level might be the best the Cowboys can reasonably hope for in this game.

Elliott is going to get every opportunity he can to reestablish himself as a premier running back in this game. Dallas is going to feed him to the point of exhaustion as long as this game remains competitive. Twenty-five rushes seems like a good bet for Elliott, and he’s got a chance to crack 30 attempts if he finds more running room than expected.