By Dwain Price, NDG Sports
FRISCO – It’s been 23 years since the Dallas Cowboys played in the NFC championship game. But they’ll reach that milestone for an amazing 17th time if they’re able to defeat the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night in LA.
Such an accomplishment wouldn’t be lost on running back Ezekiel Elliott, who was a mere six months old the last time the Cowboys were only one step away from reaching the Super Bowl.
“It’ll mean a lot just to accomplish that, especially here at the Dallas Cowboys’ prestigious organization,” Elliott said. “But our goal is not to get back to the NFC championship, it’s to get a Super Bowl win.
“That’ll be cool, but we want to win a Super Bowl.”
The Cowboys and Rams will kick off on Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
If the Cowboys beat the Rams, and the Philadelphia Eagles win in New Orleans on Sunday in their semifinal game, the Cowboys will host the NFC championship game on Jan. 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. But the Cowboys know there’s a lot of work to be done between now and then.
First, the Cowboys will have to win a playoff game on the road for the first time since they went to San Francisco and defeated the 49ers in the NFC championship game in January of 1993. While Elliott understands why historical references resurface around this time of the year, he noted that it’s not something he’s focused on.
“We’re not trying to break some streak or whatever,” Elliott said. “We’re focusing on going to win the Super Bowl.”
The Cowboys and Rams are similar
And reaching the Super Bowl entails the Cowboys first taking care of a Rams team that’s very similar to theirs.
One of those similarities involves Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott and Rams running back Todd Gurley. Elliott used his power, grace, grit and elusive abilities to lead the NFL in rushing this season with 1,434 yards, and Gurley used his power, grace, grit and elusive abilities to finish third with 1,251 yards.
But Elliott, who rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown in the Cowboys’ 24-22 victory over Seattle in this past weekend’s wild card playoff game, was quick to point out that Saturday’s semifinal is not a showdown between he and Gurley.
“Playoff football is about the team, it’s not really about individuals,” Elliott said. “It’s about trying to go get that Super Bowl.
“Yes, it’s going to be great facing against him. But I’m not going to put too much emphasis on that.”
Maybe not, but Cowboys coach Jason Garrett took the time to point out a parallel between Elliott and Gurley.
“He can beat you with speed, he can beat you with power, he can beat you cutting back, he can beat you with a hand on the ball, he can beat you when they throw him the ball, he’s great with the run after the catch,” Garrett said. “In some ways I probably did describe Ezekiel Elliott.
“They’re both big-time players who can really do everything you want on the field and embrace carrying the burden for their team.”
Offensive guard Zack Martin also has noticed that the Cowboys and Rams have similar offensive styles.
“I think both teams like to run the ball,” Martin said. “I think both offenses are better when they do run the ball successfully, so it’s no surprise we’re going to try to run it and it’s no surprise they’re going to try to run it.
“It’s just whoever executes better.”
Cowboys facing a familiar face on Rams sidelines
While running their offense to the best of their abilities is one of the Cowboys’ primary goal, they must do so while trying to out-think a very familiar face.
Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was the Cowboys’ head coach from 2007 until he was fired by the team on Nov. 8, 2010 and replaced by Garrett, who was the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator at the time.
“Wade is such a great person and such a great coach and had been coaching for a long, long time,” Garrett said. “So for me it was, as much as I could, just to be quiet and listen and watch and see how he handles so many different situations.
“Very specific football situations – I tried to get knowledge from him there. But also just how you handle a team and how you interact with coaches, how you interact with players and the environment you’re trying to create. So my time with him was incredibly valuable, and I have the utmost respect for him.”
Although this is a road game for the Cowboys, since they hold their training camp in Southern California – in Oxnard, CA, up the street from Los Angeles – they know their legions of fans will be on hand for Saturday’s game. Just ask former Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin, who is in his first year playing for the Cowboys.
“We’re over there,” Austin said, referring to the Cowboys’ fans. “And that’s a fact from when I was on the Rams and we played the Cowboys.
“But for the most part, we’re over there and they’re going to show up.”
And show up expecting the Cowboys to prevail and win for the ninth time in their last 10 games.
“I expect Cowboys Nation to show up anywhere we go, and they do,” defensive end Tyrone Crawford said. “We’ve had a strong Cowboys presence in a lot of stadiums this year, and I appreciate it.
“It’s America’s team. The star is definitely alive.”
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