ATLANTA – Amidst a sea of negative takeaways for the Cowboys in Sunday's 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas' run game was a bright spot for the offense.
The Cowboys ran for a season-high 137 yards on the ground, averaging 6.5 yards per carry on 21 attempts. Rico Dowdle had one of his best games of the season with 75 yards on 12 carries.
"Coming in, we thought we'd be able to run the ball on them based off the looks and stuff like that," Dowdle said. "I think it definitely worked out, definitely was a lot of holes. The line did a great job creating space up there."
Dowdle added on five receptions for 32 yards a touchdown that he caught while juggling the ball on his back, getting Dallas to within four points at the time.
"I was supposed to catch it the first time," Dowdle said. "Missed it the first time, dude hit me, I was able to stay with it and make a play."
Dallas' second leading rusher was Dak Prescott, who had addressed the lack of using his legs this season earlier in the week, finishing with 30 yards on three carries and the Cowboys' longest run of the year for 22 yards.
"I think a little bit of intention, but also understanding these guys were going to be soft into coverage, which also gave us light boxes," Prescott said. "If it wasn't there, whether it was getting it down to my checkdowns or getting five [yards] … it's just crazy that this happened on a normal tackle."
Prescott is referencing his hamstring injury, which took him out of the game in the fourth quarter. While unsure of when it occurred, Prescott felt it after his third carry of the day.
"I felt it when I was getting up from the run. I can't even say that I felt it running," Prescott said. "Maybe something on the tackle, I don't know."
As for the rest of the running back room, Dalvin Cook was elevated off the practice squad for the second time in as many weeks, picking up eight yards on two carries. Ezekiel Elliott did not make the trip with the team to Atlanta due to disciplinary reasons, but the organization has no doubt in his character and what he means to his teammates.
"I can't emphasize enough what an exemplary teammate that Zeke is," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "And I want to be real clear about that … but this was a discipline thing."
Now Dallas will look to build off this performance and a seemingly heavier dose of Dowdle going forward, something that head coach Mike McCarthy has called for in the past. They'll have a chance to try it again at home next Sunday when the Eagles come to Dallas for the Cowboys' second NFC East game of the season.
