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(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)

I don't get it. Rico Dowdle averages over seven yards per rush against the Bengals, but only gets 18 carries? At this point, he must be wondering what else he has to do to get the ball. Why won't the Cowboys stick with the run even in close games? – Adrian Robertson/Memphis, TN

Mickey: Though the Cowboys did a nice job in the running game, especially considering they were operating with at one point three backups playing on the offensive line.

There really was just one point they might have stuck with the run a little more, coming on their possession with 6:31 left on the fourth quarter of a 20-20 game. On first down from their own 20, the Cowboys sent Rico Dowdle around the right side for 14 yards to the 34. Then they went three consecutive incompletions, though one a bad Cooper Rush pass and the third a forced incompletion by Trey Hendrickson's pressure.

Might needed to have been a little more patient there.

Tommy: Frankly Adrian, I don't understand it either. Mike McCarthy has said several times following games that he regrets not running the ball more, or not giving Rico Dowdle more opportunities. Well, when he's averaging 7.2 yards per carry, you would think that would warrant leaning on him more especially down the stretch in a game where you're trying to play keep away from the Cincinnati offense.

Instead, there were several instances where Dowdle would pop a big play, and then get taken out for Ezekiel Elliott or see three straight passing plays that would result in a punt.

For the first time this season, the Cowboys offensive line has been generating good push consistently for Dowdle, and Dallas just hasn't taken full advantage of it. They absolutely need to commit to it going forward if he keeps running the way he's running.