Patriots' Zeke Reveals Feelings on Cowboys 'Homecoming'
The New England Patriots got their first win Sunday. They also got their first glimpse at a celebratory move that could lead to more victories in the future:
Ezekiel Elliott's trademark "Feed Me!".
Part of conservative game plan that both avoided turnovers and controlled the ball, Elliott had his best game as a Patriot in the 15-10 win at soggy MetLife Stadium. He rushed 16 times for 80 yards. In New England's first two games he had only a combined 42 yards.
Zeke had his burst back. He showed his characteristic strength through first contact. And he also exhibited some joy, doing his "Feed Me" celebration after a 13-yard, first-down run in the fourth quarter.
Now entrenched as 1A alongside starter Rhamondre Stevenson in New England's backfield, Elliott is preparing this week to face his old team as the Patriots visit the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday at AT&T Stadium.
© Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
“It’s going to be fun," said Elliott, who won two rushing titles and gained more than 8,000 yards during his seven seasons in Dallas. "I’m excited to go back to Dallas, a place where I have so much history ... my home in the offseason. It will be cool to get back in AT&T Stadium.”
Elliott, 28, was shoved out by the Cowboys - deemed too expensive - when they decided to go with younger, faster Tony Pollard as their lead back. It was a tough pill to swallow for Zeke, who remains close friends with Cowboys' quarterback Dak Prescott.
"No one wants to leave the team they’re with ... I was definitely disappointed," he said. "But everything happens for a reason. I’m excited to be a Patriot. I’m excited to go chase a Super Bowl here.”
Said Patriots' coach Bill Belichick of Elliott's incremental improvement, "I thought he had a couple real good runs. He did a nice job getting his pads down, got some tough yards, and his vision was good on a couple cutback plays.”
By any statistical metric, Zeke is the third-best ever Cowboys' running back. He has more rushing titles than Tony Dorsett (2-0), a better yards-per-carry average than Emmitt Smith (4.4-4.2), and the third-most yards and touchdowns. But if history is any indication, Elliott will receive a warm ovation from his former fans but a rude welcome from the Cowboys' defense.
Herschel Walker was 0-5 returning to Texas Stadium to face the Cowboys. Duane Thomas was 0-2. Smith was humiliated in his lone homecoming, carrying six times for minus-1 yard in a 2003 loss.
In all, ’Boys backs back home are 1-9, with only one (Thomas) rushing for more than 50 yards.
