Jarrett Bell

USA TODAY Sports

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Where’s Zeke?

With the Dallas Cowboys needing one good drive to extend or win the game on Sunday night, it was baffling that their most dynamic playmaker this season – Ezekiel Elliott -- watched from the sideline.

Elliott wasn’t injured. Yet the Cowboys subbed Elliott for third-down back Lance Dunbar for both of their final two possessions before flaming out with a 10-7 loss to the New York Giants.

Go figure. The game was on the line. Elliott was on the bench for Dallas’ final seven plays.

“Lance Dunbar has been in some of those two-minute situations for us and that’s been a role that he’s played,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett explained. “Zeke has done that as well, but we just felt that Lance, in those situations was pretty good so we gave him those opportunities.”

Not good. And totally bizarre.

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Sure, it was a pure passing game in the final three minutes, with the Cowboys starting one drive at their 24-yard line and the final one at their 3. Yet with a game to be won, there’s something to be said for having your best players on the field.

It’s not like Elliott – the NFL rushing leader who ran for another 107 yards against the Giants -- hasn’t been in on some third-down passing situations. He has.

It’s not like Elliott isn’t the team’s best pass-blocking back. He is.

It’s not like Elliott hasn’t sometimes provided a big play in the passing game. He has. See the 83-yard catch-and-run TD at Pittsburgh.

Dunbar’s a decent back, but he’s no Elliott – a frontrunner for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and arguably the best running back in the league.

The Cowboys want to incorporate Dunbar in the offense while allowing Elliott with occasional breaks. The final minutes of a tight game is not that time.

On Sunday night, Dunbar had three catches for 12 yards. Not exactly game-winning impact.

Maybe Elliott could have provided a difference-making play at the end – if only he had been on the field.

Ah, situational football. Sometimes, coaches outthink themselves. The Cowboys, winners of 11 in a row until Sunday night, haven’t been in too many situations at the end of games where they needed a drive to win at the end. But maybe next time they’ll know better.

If he’s healthy, Elliott is not the one to have on the bench.

Follow NFL columnist Jarrett Bell on Twitter@JarrettBell