Dak Dominates Pack

The Cowboys beat the Packers in Green Bay, 30-16, in a game that drew attention for Dak Prescott’s record breaking and Mike McCarthy’s decision making.

Prescott, who took over at quarterback for the Cowboys when Tony Romo broke a bone in his back in preseason, has played extremely well in leading the Cowboys to a 5-1 record. Early on against the Packers, he completed his 163rd straight pass without an interception to start a career, a new record. The previous record holder was Tom Brady. Prescott eventually threw an interception, but finished 18 for 27 for 247 yards and three touchdowns, outplaying Aaron Rodgers.

Prescott’s strong start has led to open speculation that he will retain the starting job, even after Romo returns, as he is expected to do around midseason. The Cowboys have insisted Romo will reclaim the spot when he is ready, but every week that Prescott plays well increases the pressure on the decision.

The Packers struggled in part because of some fouth-down decisions by coach McCarthy. Trailing 7-0, with a 4th-and-1 at the Cowboys’ 19, McCarthy elected to kick a field goal. Down 7-3, he kicked again on 4th-and-2 at the 25. Then, with a 4th-and-5 at the Cowboys’ 38 and trailing 10-6, he decided to go for it. Rodgers’s pass attempt fell incomplete.

The Packers were trailing by 20-6 early in the fourth quarter when they found themselves with a fourth down and 10 at Dallas’s 16. Despite being in deep hole on the scoreboard, they went back to opting for points on the board, kicking a field goal that only closed them to within 11. The Cowboys responded with a touchdown drive to pull ahead, 27-9.

Rodgers, the two-time MVP, continued to play below his standards. He missed open receivers, threw his fourth interception of the year, and fumbled near the end zone to kill a Packers’ drive in the fourth quarter. The Lambeau Field faithful let him have it with a chorus of boos late in the game. He hasn’t had a 300-yard passing game since Week 9 of last season.

To add to this, Ezekiel Elliott had 60 rushing yards by halftime – and he was just getting started.

Not even the Green Bay Packers’ top-ranked run defense could slow the Cowboys’ dynamic rookie. Elliott delivered his team-record fourth straight 100-yard rushing performance this season, carrying the ball 28 times for 157 yards in a 30-16 win.

He also set a league record against, on paper, his biggest challenge to date: he’s the first rookie in NFL history to rush for at least 130 yards in four straight games.

“I need to thank my offensive line,” Elliott said. “Those guys worked their tails off. They make it easy for me.”

Just as he did during a decorated college career that led to a top-five draft selection, Elliott’s making it look easy, too.

Sunday’s key matchup was the Cowboys’ leading run game against Green Bay’s nearly unprecedented early-season run defense. Only one team since 1933 had allowed fewer yards than the Packers (171) through the first four games of a season.

Elliott nearly matched that total by himself. The Cowboys collectively gained 191 yards on 33 carries, including a 26-yard Lucky Whitehead run that set up a crucial touchdown just before halftime on a remarkable 97-yard, 33-second drive. It was the first 20-yard run Green Bay had yielded all season.

The Cowboys built a commanding 16-point lead early in the fourth quarter and Elliott helped run out the clock with 10 carries for 64 yards over those final 15 minutes. On the second drive of the fourth, leading 27-16, his game-best 29-yard run forced the Packers to start using up their timeouts.

“We are a physical team,” Elliott said. “A lot of teams can’t keep that physical presence for four quarters. We aren’t going to back down no matter what front they bring.”

Elliott’s 703 rushing yards are the most by a Cowboys rookie in his first six games, and it’s the second-most in league history: Eric Dickerson posted 787 on his way to the NFL single-season rookie rushing record.

Elliott has said before that he’s focused on wins, not a record – and the Cowboys have won five straight due in large part to the offense’s ability to control the line of scrimmage.

“They’re a good defense. Their front is really good,” tight end Jason Witten said. “But our offensive line, and give Zeke a lot of credit, too – he runs really hard, he sees those holes and hits them – but those guys understand the challenge week in and week out. You can’t say enough great things about them.”