Considering a few weeks ago, it was the Cowboys, not the Cardinals, who were going to be missing their star running back for the teams' "Monday Night Football" matchup, things have changed considerably. David Johnson, of course, is out after wrist surgery. Ezekiel Elliott, who was once expected to be suspended at this point, will play as his case winds through the courts.

Elliott gained only eight yards rushing last week on nine carries, a combination of Denver's defense and the hole the Cowboys found themselves within. Elliott shrugged off the idea the Broncos might have found the blueprint of how to slow the Dallas offense.

"Every week people stack the box," Elliott told Dallas reporters. "It's not something we've seen for the first time."

Elliott has had a doubly rough week. Already dealing with the suspension hanging over his head and then getting stuffed by the Broncos, Elliott was then seen at the end of the game stopping completely after a Dak Prescott interception, making no effort to even try to get to a tackle.

("I would say I was just very frustrated, but that's no excuse for the lack of effort I showed on tape," he said. "I just can't do that. Being one of the leaders on the team and being a guy that people count on, I can't put that type of stuff on film." Elliott added, "I wasn't myself.")

The Cardinals have done a decent job against the run in their first two games. The Lions gained only 82 yards on the ground and the Colts 76. But neither team has the rushing potential of the Cowboys, with Elliott and one of the best offensive lines in the league. Holding him to less than 10 yards would be great -- but unrealistic. Containing him somewhat is the goal, trying to mitigate whatever advantage an Elliott-minus-David-Johnson equation creates.