The Dallas Cowboys will do zilch without Zeke, the nickname for second-year star running back Ezekiel Elliott.
The Cowboys have already lost the first two games in Elliott’s six-game suspension for alleged domestic violence and both losses were blowouts.
On Sunday, four days before Thanksgiving, the Cowboys got the stuffing knocked out of them as they fell to the Philadelphia Eagles 37-9 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The defending NFC East champions are 5-5 this season, and coach Jason Garrett told his team this week they could finish 11-5 or 5-11.
E.E. comes home Dec. 24 and he will help the Cowboys finish 7-9 with wins in their final two games, but they will miss the playoffs because of six consecutive losses during his suspension.
Quarterback Dak Prescott, also a second-year Cowboys star, can’t win with veteran running back Alfred Morris. Morris is playing in place of Elliott. He is no Mercury Morris, a dynamic all-purpose Miami Dolphins back who finished his career with one of the highest rushing averages in NFL history.
Elliott is a breakaway runner, a highly skilled pass blocker and a good receiver. Morris lacks versatility and the Cowboys appear to have no depth at running back.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported in March that Dallas was hoping to trade Morris because he is not a good fit in spot duty behind Elliott.
Now, Morris is the starter, Rod Smith goes nowhere in spot duty and Darren McFadden has been inactive nine times.
As long as Elliott is out, winning in Dallas will be inactive, too.
Dallas will host the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, and the Chargers have won four of their past six games after an 0-4 start.
This game is a pick ‘em. I pick the Chargers 24-14.
Unhappy Thanksgrieving, Cowboys.
