Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa were left on the bench – just a few months after Howe spent £124m on the forwards.
That told its own story as the visitors lined up without a recognised striker for the second away league game in a row.
Anthony Gordon was instead tasked with leading the line on the road again after Howe took heart from the opening half an hour of his side’s 4-1 defeat against Liverpool.
Gordon put Newcastle in front at Anfield that night, but it was still a bold call.
However, Gordon, Elanga and Harvey Barnes aggressively led the press out of possession as they hunted down Spurs’ defenders and broke forward quickly with the ball.
There were still occasions where Newcastle were crying out for a poacher in the box to get on the end of a number of teasing crosses from Elanga.
However, the speed of Newcastle’s front line caused Spurs problems and Gordon’s dancing feet set up Ramsey’s winner.
Remarkably, it was just travel-sick Newcastle’s third away league victory of the season.
Newcastle have too often been soft, throwing away more points (19) than any other side in the division.
But this was an evening where they “really did inspire each other” following a difficult few days.
“If anything they used it in a positive way and reinforced relationships,” Howe added.
“It made us all look inward and look at what we’re doing and how we can do it better.”