ARLINGTON -- For once, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott didn't hurdle anyone Thursday against Washington. But the rookie did get past another potential roadblock in his development.
Elliott started quickly against the Redskins by rushing four times for 43 yards on the first possession, capping the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run up the middle.
And then poof.
Washington stymied Elliott the rest of the first half, holding him to 2 yards on his next five carries.
Elliott didn't have much more success in the third quarter, with two of his three carries going for only 1 yard.
The frustration could have rattled a 21-year-old rookie. But Elliott didn't flinch.
"You've got to respect a young guy like that because it's easy to get frustrated with things like that," Cowboys left guard Ron Leary said. "But he handles it like a pro."
Elliott cranked up his game when the Cowboys needed it most, breaking the Redskins' backs to start the fourth quarter after Washington had made it a one-score game.
Elliott had a 21-yard run to the right side and followed it with a 19-yard catch over the middle to help ignite a touchdown drive that put Dallas ahead, 24-12.
On the Cowboys' ensuing drive, Elliott scored his second touchdown on a 1-yard run that put the game away. Elliott had eight carries for 41 yards in the fourth quarter, finishing just short of the 100-yard mark with 20 carries for 97 yards.
Elliott said it's always tough playing a team for the second time, especially when the Redskins have former Cowboys assistant coaches Bill Callahan and Wes Phillips on their sideline.
"It's tough to play these guys because they have a couple of our old coaches," Elliott said. "They know our plays. It comes down to they know the plays, so I mean it's always tough to run the rock when they know exactly what you're doing. So we had to grind it out and play physical football."
Elliott leads the league in rushing and has thrust himself into the MVP race now that the Cowboys have won 10 consecutive games to improve to an NFL-best 10-1.
Only three running backs in NFL history have had at least 1,199 rushing yards through their first 11 games: Elliott, Adrian Peterson and Eric Dickerson.
Elliott has hit the gas pedal of late. He has two rushing touchdowns in three of his last four games.
Elliott said Thursday all the MVP talk "sounds good."
"But it's not really what we're focused on," Elliott added. "They can say 'Dallas Cowboys MVP, Dallas Cowboys offensive line MVP.' Those guys are great. They're beasts. They're why I'm successful."
In Week 2, Elliott struggled against the Redskins, putting the ball on the ground twice and losing one fumble. He had only 83 rushing yards.
Since then, Elliott has not finished with fewer than 92 rushing yards in any game.
"I knew he was going to be good, but he's exceeded all of my expectations," Leary said. "He's a great back. He makes us look a lot better than we are by hitting holes like that."
Elliott's fourth quarter Thursday also included a 21-yard touchdown run that was called back because of a holding call on receiver Vince Mayle. Elliott also helped to make sure a Redskins onside kick try trickled out of bounds.
But what Elliott has become best at is closing out games with authority.
"Over time, you keep running the football, you're going to wear them down," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. "He made some big runs late. They were critical and really broke their back."
And they showed that even when a team slows Elliott for a large part of the game, the rookie has the fortitude to stay the course and keep grinding.
Elliott said he knows the road won't get any smoother.
"We've got to keep it rolling," Elliott said. "We've got a target on our belt. We've got the best record in the league. Every time we go out there and play, the other team is going to give us their best shot."
More on Cowboys' win vs. Redskins
5 thoughts from Cowboys-Redskins: Cousins had better game, but Dak was outstanding in his own way
Dez Bryant-Josh Norman feud goes wild with trash talk, shoving
Why Cowboys are headed toward perfect fairy-tale ending