Seahawks-Cowboys ready for ‘bone-on-bone’ battle
Ezekiel Elliott won his second NFL rushing title in three seasons for a Dallas offense that has been defined by the ground game for several years now.
Seattle takes the league’s No. 1 rushing offense into a wild- card playoff against the Cowboys on Saturday night, led by Chris Carson, but with more help from others than your average pro backfield.
While receiver Amari Cooper’s impact on the Dallas passing game was dramatic following a midseason trade, and Seattle’s Russell Wilson again finished among the NFL leaders in touchdowns passing, both teams figure to try to control the second postseason meeting between these franchises with their running backs.
“We have a formula here,” said Dallas right guard Zack Martin, who has made the Pro Bowl in all five of his seasons. “Usually if we win a game, we kind of stick to that formula. It’s always a tough game against those guys. It’s kind of a bone- onbone game. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”
Elliott finished with 1,434 yards while setting a club record for catches by a running back with 77, one more than Herschel Walker 32 years ago. His 2,001 yards from scrimmage were second to New York Giants rookie Saquon Barkley.
The 23-year- old former Ohio State star had the first 40-touch game of his career, a 29-23 overtime win against defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia that all but wrapped up the NFC East for the Cowboys (10- 6).
The Seahawks (10- 6) will throw multiple backs at the Cowboys, starting with Carson. With 1,151 yards rushing, Carson became the club’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Marshawn Lynch on Seattle’s most recent Super Bowl qualifier in 2014.
EAGLES’ JEFFREY NOT FEELING SENTIMENTAL »
Alshon Jeffery is all business this week.
The talented wide receiver is playing in Chicago for the first time since he left Chicago after five seasons and joined Philadelphia. The Eagles (9-7) have a tough road trying to defend their Super Bowl title, starting with a wild- card game against the Bears (124) on Sunday.
“I don’t have any emotions. I don’t have any feelings, honestly,” Jeffery said. “It’s a playoff game and they’re just in the way of where we want to go. I can’t wait for this game, for sure.”
DENVER INTERVIEWS RAMS QB COACH »
Broncos general manager John Elway continued his latest coaching search by interviewing Zac Taylor, the Rams’ 35-year- old quarterbacks coach who’s long on football pedigree but short on experience.
Elway and player personnel director Matt Russell flew to Los Angeles to interview Taylor near the Rams’ headquarters in Thousand Oaks, a day after meeting with former Colts coach Chuck Pagano in Denver. Elway also plans to speak with Bears assistant Vic Fangio, Patriots assistant Brian Flores and Steelers assistant Mike Munchak.
Elway is searching for his fourth head coach in six seasons after firing Vance Joseph on Monday with two-year record of 11-21. BROWNS SHIELDING KITCHENS » The Browns have reportedly denied requests from other teams to interview offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens, a candidate for the Cleveland job.