SEATTLE _ Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 127 yards and averaged 7.9 yards per carry Sunday at Seattle's CenturyLink Field, and in the end, it will go down as a day the Cowboys star running back came up short.
Despite the rushing success, Elliott made three crucial errors, contributing to Dallas' overall offensive misery in the 24-13 loss to the Seahawks that dropped the Cowboys to 1-2.
"I had a poor performance today," Elliott said. "Did well in the run game, but overall dropped the ball. That loss is on me. ... I'm very frustrated. ... As a leader on this team I've got to be better in those crunch moments, and that's that."
Even the good plays went wrong Sunday for Elliott.
In the fourth quarter, he busted out to the left sideline, then cut back in, still charging after gaining 26 yards, his longest rush of the season. But Seattle safety Bradley McDougald came up behind him and chopped the ball out from under Elliott's elbow. Cornerback Justin Coleman recovered it at the Seahawks' 13 before Elliott could get it back. Elliott smacked his leg pads in frustration. It was his third career lost fumble.
Elliott said that cost the Cowboys, who were down 24-6 at that point, the game.
"When you've got the ball in your hand," Elliott said, "that's the team in your hand."
Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner said the Seahawks noticed leading into the game that Elliott at times carries the ball loosely.
In the second quarter, Elliott dropped a pass from quarterback Dak Prescott on third and 9 that had the chance to go for a first down.
On Dallas' next drive, he caught a pass and raced for a 31-yard touchdown _ but it was all for naught because he'd illegally stepped out of bounds with his right foot before the reception.
"I had no idea," Elliott said. "I got to have better awareness of the sideline. That's it."
As far as the offense as a whole, Elliott echoed a lot of the sentiments he made after another disappointing day in Week 1 after the season opener at Carolina. It comes down to execution. The plays are there if they correct the mistakes.
Elliott had five gains of 10-plus yards and cleared the 100-yard mark for the first time this season Sunday. And yet, the Cowboys are still searching for answers.
"He's a leader of this team, a guy who cares a lot about what he does and his craft," Prescott said. "So his mood's going to be _ he's not going to be happy with himself and his performance. ... But you don't see that many times."
