Why the Cowboys will be able to run the ball for the rest of the season
The Cowboys have really put together only two solid games of rushing in 2012. That should change over the final quarter of the season.
In Week 14, the Cowboys’ offensive line will once again have a chance to provide Murray with lanes to run. The Bengals rank in the top 12 in the NFL in rushing yards allowed, but bulk stats rarely tell the entire story. The most predictive rushing stat isn’t rushing yards or even YPC, but success rate—the rate of plays that increase an offense’s chances of scoring on a given play. The Bengals defense hasn’t been run on that often in 2012, but opponents have had some success when testing Cincinnati on the ground; the Bengals’ defense ranks just 30th in the NFL in run success rate.
In the subsequent three games, the Cowboys will face the Steelers, Saints, and Redskins—teams ranked 25th, 22nd, and 21st in run defense success rate, respectively—suggesting the Cowboys could actually get something going on the ground to finish the season.
Check out more on the Cowboys’ rushing at DMN.
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