Can Saints' No. 1 run defense cool off Ezekiel Elliott?
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
By Mike Triplett | ESPN Staff Writer
METAIRIE, La. -- Something's gotta give on Thursday night in Dallas.
The Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott has been the hottest running back in the NFL over the past three weeks, with 394 rushing yards, 531 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns.
But the New Orleans Saints have had the NFL's most stifling run defense all season, allowing just 73.2 yards per game. No running back has run for 70 against them.
Last Thursday night, Atlanta Falcons running backs Tevin Coleman and Ito Smith combined for just 6 yards on 12 carries.
"When you can hold a team to 1.6 [yards] a carry, they may as well not even try to run the ball anymore," Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins said of Atlanta's average yards per rush, which was boosted by quarterback Matt Ryan’s two scrambles for 16 yards. ...
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Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
By Mike Triplett | ESPN Staff Writer
METAIRIE, La. -- Something's gotta give on Thursday night in Dallas.
The Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott has been the hottest running back in the NFL over the past three weeks, with 394 rushing yards, 531 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns.
But the New Orleans Saints have had the NFL's most stifling run defense all season, allowing just 73.2 yards per game. No running back has run for 70 against them.
Last Thursday night, Atlanta Falcons running backs Tevin Coleman and Ito Smith combined for just 6 yards on 12 carries.
"When you can hold a team to 1.6 [yards] a carry, they may as well not even try to run the ball anymore," Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins said of Atlanta's average yards per rush, which was boosted by quarterback Matt Ryan’s two scrambles for 16 yards. ...
Full Story - ESPN.com