NFC East: Biggest question for each team in 2020

Dallas Cowboys Will Mike McCarthy rely more on the running game with the Cowboys?

The elephant in the room these days is obviously the Cowboys’ failure to get their starting signal-caller under contract – be it agreeing to the franchise tender or signing a long term deal (the deadline for the latter is July 15).

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But perhaps the real issue when it comes to the Dallas’ offense is less about quarterback Dak Prescott and more on whether new head coach Mike McCarthy will rely on the running game more than he did — especially in the later years — when he was at the helm of the Green Bay Packers.

Actually, the Cowboys eventually got away from it a little this past season. Although the final numbers may indicate otherwise. But a closer look shows that after totaling at least 30 running plays in six of their eight games, the team reached that figure just twice in their final eight outings and were limited to fewer than 100 yards in four of those contests.

Prescott put up career numbers in terms of passing yards (4,902) and scores through the air (30). And despite 1,357 yards and 12 scores on the ground via Ezekiel Elliott (who has made news recently off the field via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News), he was held below the century mark in six of the club’s final eight contests.

And for the first time in four NFL seasons, he did not average at least 20 carries. Food for thought?