One of the biggest surprises of the Dallas Cowboys‘ offense in 2025 is the ability to not only run the ball but also the consistency and the ability to pick up chunk yards.
With Javonte Williams reminding us of his talents, already rushing for 592 yards (second in the NFL), along with a career-high six rushing touchdowns through seven games, while also averaging 5.3 yards per carry, Dallas finally has not just a competent run game, but a good one.
Averaging 122.1 yards per game, the rushing attack has paved the way for the passing game with CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Jake Ferguson, and KaVontae Turpin to heat up.
But what does having Williams do for the offense in CeeDee’s eyes?
“The ability to run the ball,” Lamb said. “I feel like that’s night and day, and I think he’s like top two in the NFL [in yards]. So, looking to keep that steam rolling and able to just ride his coat tail as far as him leading us, leading the charge in the run game.”
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Cowboys benefitting from good run game
For the past couple of seasons, Dak Prescott hasn’t had a decent run game to fall back on, and we saw the results of that (27th in 2024, 100.3 per game).
But now, with Williams keeping the offense, for the most part, in good down and distances, it allows Brian Schottenheimer to open up his entire playbook with play action, bootlegs, and anything you can think of to get his weapons involved.
Defenses can no longer drop more players into coverage due to the lack of threat in the run game, because Williams has shown that he can be the bellcow and punish defenses, as he has five games of 15+ rushing attempts.
The Cowboys finally have a good run game, and as Lamb stated, it’s “night and day” compared to what we have seen in that space from Dallas, and who knows, maybe it will be the run game that is the reason the Cowboys walk out of Mile High with a win on Sunday.
