Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams: 5 Bold predictions for Divisional Round

2. Ezekiel Elliott will have more receiving yards than rushing yards

For the Dallas Cowboys to win this game, they will have to have a respectable rushing attack against the Los Angeles Rams, but they need to take advantage of the talent of running back Ezekiel Elliott and use him in the passing game on Saturday to lead themselves to a win.

This season, Elliott caught 77 passes for 567 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 7.4 yards per reception catching passes out of the backfield. Elliott can change the entire pace of this Divisional Round game with his pass-catching presence, and the Cowboys would be smart to do so on this stage.

That said, it doesn’t mean that the Cowboys don’t need to rush the football, or find the likes of Amari Cooper, Cole Beasley or Michael Gallup through the air — as long as they do not throw the ball to Noah Brown this game — and use all of Elliott’s talents to get the Rams off their game.

The Cowboys were 4-1 in the regular season when Elliott caught for over 50 yards in a game, and they were 3-0 in the games where he caught a touchdown pass. Also during the regular season, each time he caught for over 50 yards per game, he also rushed for no less than 60 yards in each of those games as well.

Though he didn’t do that against the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round, Elliott did total 137 yards rushing on 26 carries for one touchdown, along with four receptions for 32 yards as well. Those are great numbers against the Seahawks, but against the Rams, if the Cowboys are able to even Zeke’s numbers out through his pass-catching abilities and his NFL-leading rushing game, that gives them the best chance to win.

The surprise will be that Elliott will have more receiving than rushing yards Saturday.