Last season, it was a top-10 unit with Javonte Williams, but the ground game is struggling in the first two weeks.
The Dallas Cowboys' run game in 2026 has failed to get off the ground in the first two weeks.
In what is a far cry from the top-10 unit in 2025, Javonte Williams and Co. have struggled to get much of anything going in the opening two weeks.
Just 69 yards against the New York Giants and then 66 yards against the Washington Commanders, the Cowboys have been largely reliant on Dak Prescott and the air attack to begin 2026.
Now, is part of that not having Tyler Smith in at left guard? Maybe.
Part of it could be that the offensive line as a whole just isn't getting the movement needed up front to open up running lanes for Williams.
When asked about why the run game has been so stagnant in 2026, head coach Brian Schottenheimer offered a reason why.
"Well, a couple things, one, first, game had the ball for 23 minutes, that's a big part of it, you get limited ops," Schottenheimer said. "[Against Washington] quite honestly, we came out with a different plan. We're going to throw it around the yard. It worked good. This week we might run it around the yard.
"We're getting a little bit too much knockback in the backfield, not getting the movement at times at certain things. Running game sometimes takes time, and I think that's kind of where we are."
Week 1, we get it, Dallas barely had the ball, especially in the second half, but Williams averaged just 3.4 yards per carry.
Against Washington, Williams managed just 2.5 yards per carry.
That won't do.
With the Baltimore Ravens up next in Rio, the Cowboys will face a Jesse Minter/Anthony Weaver defense that has allowed 102 and 65 yards on the ground.
So, for a Dallas run game that has already struggled to get rolling, this won't be a "get right" game for the rushing attack. In fact, the opposite: it's going to be even harder to get it rolling.
The rushing attack was a big reason for Dallas' offensive efficiency last season, but just two games into 2026, it has been the passing attack that the Cowboys have had to rely on.
The hope is that in Rio, the Cowboys can get some resemblance of a run game going.
