Ezekiel Elliott shoulders blame for failed key third and goal opportunity

On3 imageby:Tim Verghese09/15/21

TimVerghese

dallas-cowboys-running-back-ezekiel-elliott-shoulders-blame-for-failed-key-third-and-goal-opportunity-in-loss-to-tampa-bay-buccaneers
Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott shouldered the blame for a failed key third-and-goal opportunity against Tampa Bay that would have given Dallas their first lead of the game midway through the third quarter.

“That’s on me,” Elliott said via The Atheltic’s Jon Machota. “We’re inside the 5, me vs. a DB. I got to get the ball in my left hand so I got something to fight him off with on my inside hand. I gotta find a way to get in the end zone.”

The play Ezekiel Elliott described came with just under ten minutes left in the third quarter with the Cowboys trailing 21-16. On third-and-goal from just inside the three-yard line, Elliott received a pitch from quarterback Dak Prescott but was unable to reach the pylon as Buccaneers safety Andrew Adams met Elliott at the line of scrimmage to bring him down. After being in a place to take their first lead of the game, the Cowboys were forced to settle for a field goal, to make it a 21-19 game.

The Cowboys ultimately lost 31-29 to the reigning Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Cowboys were able to move the ball through the air, as Dak Prescott threw for 403 yards in his first game back after suffering a season-ending ankle injury just five weeks into the 2020 season.

The run game struggled. Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 33 yards on 11 carries, adding two catches for six yards as the Cowboys struggled to rush against the Buccaneers defensive front. As a team, Dallas rushed for just 60 yards on 18 carries, averaging just 3.3 yards per carry.

The Cowboys’ offense has seen a lot of turnover recently as All-Pro right guard Zack Martin returns to the line after missing the first game of the season due to COVID-19.

The Cowboys did lose tackle La’el Collins and wide receiver Michael Gallup for an extended period. Collins was suspended for five games after violations of the league’s substance abuse policy. Gallup suffered a calf injury in the Cowboys season opener and was placed on injured reserve.

“Collins has been tested roughly 10 times a month over the past 18 months, and, according to sources, has not tested positive for marijuana once between Oct. 21, 2020 and Aug. 11, 2021,” reported CBS Sports. “However, Collins has been cited seven times for ‘failure to appear’ for testing, although often with mitigating circumstances, according to sources.”

Ezekiel Elliott will look to be more productive in the Cowboys’ matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.