Establish the pass is a modern twist on classic mantra. For years it’s been taught that the running game is what sets up the passing game, and frankly, for years it was often true. In today’s NFL it’s about passing. Even in the current age of shell coverage and I-dare-you-to-run defenses, passing remains king for the Dallas Cowboys and in most of the NFL.
In 2025 Javonte Williams has undeniably given the Cowboys’ running game a resurgence. He’s among league leaders in multiple categories and has Dallas playing some of their most balanced ball in years. Brian Schottenheimer certainly deserves credit in his play design, but perhaps no one deserves more than Dak Prescott and the downfield passing attack.
You see, it’s that passing attack that has defenses on their heels. That aforementioned shell coverage is all about choosing the lesser of two evils and to many of today’s defenses, it’s the running game that they’re willing to deal with. With defenses overpopulating the secondary they’re essentially daring teams to run on them. It’s a dare Williams and the Cowboys are happy to oblige.
If the Cowboys can get you spread out and back in coverage, they can run all over you.
Cowboys running game with light box counts vs LV’s defense against light box counts. Numbers and chart from @SumerSports weekly newsletter pic.twitter.com/10O0Ghxav3
— Reid D Hanson (@ReidDHanson) November 13, 2025
When teams pull back into coverage and tempt Dallas with light box counts, the Cowboys have been averaging 0.12 EPA on the ground. That’s good enough for second in the NFL and 0.09 EP more than their average overall rushing EPA. According to data from Sumer Sports, they’re so good rushing against light boxes they are only 0.04 EP behind their eighth-ranked passing EPA.
How much shell coverage and light boxes the Cowboys face each game depend on the fear the passing game strikes in their opponents. The past two weeks have been down weeks for the offense. The passing game has struggled, and the running game has followed suit. They hope the Las Vegas Raiders can be the get-right game they need this week.
This is all Javonte Williams. Just a beautiful jump cut to avoid the tackler and create a big gain pic.twitter.com/AtvMLwjQP8
— John Owning (@JohnOwning) October 20, 2025
The schedule gets much more difficult down the stretch and after stumbling through the easy part with a 3-5-1 record, the Cowboys are facing an uphill battle. But things seem to work out when the script goes according to plan. Hitting some of the shots downfield keeps defenses back on their heels and opportunities open for the ground game. The Cowboys are at their best when the two sides play complementary ball and the best way to do that is running against light boxes and passing against stacked boxes.
It probably explains why the Cowboys’ pass rate over expected is sitting at a cool zero percent overall. They aren’t overdoing either phase of the game and they’re adjusting to what the defense gives them in the box. This essentially explains why specifically in 3rd-and-short situations the Cowboys are passing the ball 12 percent over expected. When it’s 1-2 yards to go, defenses crowd the box. Dallas simply plays to the circumstances.
The Cowboys hit a speed bump on offense as of late, but they should be able to get things back on track by taking some effective shots downfield and attacking those prime opportunities against light boxes with the run.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys running game at its best when passing game opens things up
