Ezekiel Elliott is one of the most physical running backs in the NFL, and he is often at his best when he lowers his shoulder to initiate contact. Going forward, he is just going to have to make sure it is the shoulder he is lowering and not his head.
During the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Elliott was called for a personal foul for lowering his helmet to initiate contact with a defender. The penalty cost the Cowboys 15 yards in a game that was tied 9-9 at the time.
Ezekiel Elliott is flagged for lowering his helmet to initiate contact, nullifying what would have been a catch-and-run for a 1st down. Also injured on the play. That's why the NFL made the rule…#PHIvsDAL | #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/qpbW6Ajeb4
— Kevin Boilard (@247KevinBoilard) December 9, 2018
Elliott ended up driving his helmet into Eagles safety Corey Graham’s shoulder, but it doesn’t matter with the way the rule is written. Ironically, it was Elliott who ended up briefly leaving the game with an injury. He later returned.
Prior to Elliott being flagged for lowering his helmet, that penalty had only been called nine times all season. While the rule makes sense for player safety, the NFL has to be able to call it more consistently. It happens on a weekly basis and almost never results in a flag, so you can understand why the Cowboys were frustrated that they were called for it at such a crucial moment.
