Cowboys don’t let Hill’s thrill ruin day
Dallas gets reprieve on Elliott’s TD after Chiefs WR dazzles
ARLINGTON, Texas — Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys figured they were headed to halftime with a comfortable lead after his touchdown run before a what-justhappened score from Kansas City’s Tyreek Hill, who surely will be on the short list for the play of the year in the NFL.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones wasn’t even watching.
“I was eating my hot dog,” Jones said. “Seriously, it was the kind of thing, we all know the momentum is the best thing you can do to be in the ballgame. This team had every right, every reason to get down. They did not. That’s the thing I’m proud of today.”
Dallas overcame Hill’s weaving 56-yard score with the clock expired going into halftime, with Ezekiel Elliott scoring the go-ahead touchdown after another reprieve from his six-game suspension in the Cowboys’ 28-17 victory over the Chiefs on Sunday.
Elliott’s 2-yard plunge in the third quarter came after the Chiefs turned a 14-3 deficit into a 17-14 advantage, sparked by Hill’s stunning catch and run through seven Dallas defenders inside their 25 trying to prevent the score.
“You’ve got to put that play behind you and move forward,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “Sometimes easier said than done. We felt like we gave them one.”
Last year’s NFL rushing champion as a rookie, Elliott had 93 yards, ending a streak of three straight 100-yard games but outgaining Kareem Hunt, this year’s rushing leader in his first season entering the game.
Hunt matched a season low with nine carries, finishing with 37 yards as a club record-tying nine-game road winning streak ended for the Chiefs (6-3) in their third loss in four games since a 5-0 start.
Elliott got an emergency stay from a New York court on Friday, stopping the suspension over alleged domestic violence for the third time. Another court hearing could be held this week.
With former quarterback Tony Romo calling his first Dallas game as lead analyst for CBS, Prescott had two touchdown passes to Cole Beasley and along with his fourth rushing TD this season in a third straight win for the Cowboys (5-3).
Terrance Williams had a career-high nine catches for 141 yards, including a 56-yarder from a scrambling Prescott to set up Prescott’s 10-yard TD run with 13 seconds left in the first half.
Trailing 14-3, the Chiefs were at their 44 with two seconds left when the Cowboys used three linemen and a linebacker near the line of scrimmage and dropped everyone else back.
Hill caught an easy toss from Alex Smith at the Cowboys 42 and started toward the goal line with three blockers in front.
The speedy Hill motored around Orlando Scandrick at the 25, cut behind two blocks from Demarcus Robinson inside the 10 and sidestepped overpursuing linebacker Anthony Hitchens to finish the stunning TD.
Remarkably, it appeared Hill was untouched all the way, with only safety Xavier Woods getting close with an outstretched left arm. Fellow safety Byron Jones ripped off his helmet in frustration as Hill crossed the goal line.
“I knew it was going to be trouble,” said running back Charcandrick West, who was on the field for the play. “The kid is something special. His Twitter name and Instagram is cheetah. That’s what he is.”