FRISCO, Texas – Fourteen games into his Pro Bowl rookie season, Elliott is within realistic reach of Eric Dickerson's 33-year-old rookie rushing record.
He already has more rushing yards (1,551) than any NFL player gained last season and would need 258 yards in the Cowboys' final two regular-season games to break the record (1,808).
Naturally, the question arose again Thursday: does Elliott think about making history?
"You think about it, but it can't be something you focus on," he said. "You've got to be focused on winning ballgames because that's all that matters. Like I've said millions of times, you go out there, you win, great things will happen.
"It'd be special just to know that I had the best rookie season a running back has had in this league and especially a record that's been – however old it is, I don't know, it's definitely way older than me. It would be special, but I could think of something that's more special than that."
A few hours later Thursday, Cowboys (12-2) clinched the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NFC playoffs thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles' victory over the New York Giants (10-5). With homefield advantage wrapped up, the Cowboys have the option to rest or reduce snaps for starters at some point in the last two games if they choose.
All that remains to be seen, but the mere subject of Dickerson's rookie record shows just how special Elliott's rookie season has been so far.
