Dallas Cowboys

MMQB names Cowboys Rookie Offensive Player of the Week

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Following the Dallas Cowboys thrilling victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, the MMQB names this Cowboys rookie their Offensive Player of the Week.

The Dallas Cowboys trumped the Pittsburgh Steelers 35-30 at Heinz Field on Sunday. The buzz following the game was more about how the contest unfolded than the actual final score. Not only were there seven lead changes during the game, but there were three touchdowns scored in the final two minutes.

Although there were several stars on both sides of the ball, two Cowboys rookies shined the brightest. Quarterback Dak Prescott completed 22 of his 32 passes for 319 yards and two scores. It was the first time this season the young gunslinger has thrown for over 300 yards through the air.

Despite Prescott’s excellent play, it was Cowboys rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott that was the real star of the show. Not only was Zeke responsible for 95 of those passing yards for fellow rookie Prescott, 83 of which came on a screen pass for a touchdown late in the first quarter, but he was also responsible for winning the game.

In the final two minutes of the contest against the Steelers at home, and down 24-23, the Cowboys turned to their two offensive rookies to win the game. Elliott, Dallas’ first round pick and the fourth overall in the 2016 NFL Draft in April, didn’t let the Cowboys down. Zeke scored two touchdowns on runs in those final two minutes. A 14-yard and a 32-yard run, both untouched.

The 21-year old Cowboy running back officially hit the 1,000 rushing yard with his final game-winning touchdown run on Sunday against the Steelers. His combined 209 offensive yards in the contest was the most in his young career so far. It was a performance that earned him the honor of being named the MMQB’s Offensive Player of the Week.

“Ezekiel Elliott, running back, Dallas,” wrote longtime NFL writer Peter King on Monday. “He’s not just the leader for rookie of the year and for first-team All-Pro running back. He’s one of the top candidates for MVP after his dominant 209-total-yard, three-touchdown performance in one of the best football games played this season, Dallas’s 35-30 win in Pittsburgh. He took a swing pass 83 yards for a touchdown late in the first quarter, then ran 14 and 32 yards, respectively, for touchdowns in the final two minutes of the game. Right now, he’d be my MVP.”

Ironically, Elliott shares this honor with former Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray. Following a one-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, Murray was promptly traded to the Tennessee Titans in the offseason. In a big win over the struggling Green Bay Packers, the former Cowboy ran for 123 yards on 21 carries on Sunday. Murray had a 75-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage, setting the tone for the Titans’ victory over the Packers, 47-25.

Elliott has rushed for 1,005 yards in nine games. He also has ten total touchdowns to boot. Zeke currently leads the NFL in rushing yardage. The next closest rusher is Murray, who has 930 yards on the ground so far this season for the Titans.