To engage in a candid discussion about Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott ahead of the Week 8 clash with the San Francisco 49ers, it’s important to acknowledge that the $240 million investment has not met expectations.
Currently sitting at 3-3, Prescott’s inconsistent performance has contributed to the team’s struggles. He has amassed 1,602 passing yards and eight touchdowns, but he has also thrown six interceptions. His completion rate of 63.4% is the second-lowest of his career—just slightly above the 62.9% he recorded in 2017. Moreover, he has completed fewer than 60% of his passes in three of the six games this season.
These statistics are far from what owner Jerry Jones hoped for when he made Prescott one of the highest-paid players in NFL history, believing he would finally fulfill his potential and lead the Cowboys to a championship. As it stands, the Cowboys are not assured a playoff spot, much less a Super Bowl appearance, a goal that has eluded them since 1996.
While it’s fair to consider Prescott’s challenges, he has been forthcoming about his performance. He may lack the necessary support on the field at times, but his talent and leadership have never been in doubt.
“I’d say I’ve played average, and it isn’t good enough right now by any means,” Prescott said, as reported by ESPN. “It’s never been good enough for me. I can’t say that I’ve been happy or excited after any of these games that I’ve played. But understanding there’s more plays out there for me to make, whether it’s in the design or not. [I’m] capable of it.”
The potential is certainly there; last season, he threw for 4,516 yards and 36 touchdowns against just nine interceptions, achieving a career-high completion percentage of 69.5%.
When in form, Prescott is widely regarded as a top-10 quarterback in the league.
“Damn excited and glad he’s our quarterback,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said while assessing Prescott’s play before the bye week and expressing hope for a strong second half of the season.
While McCarthy’s enthusiasm is noted, it won’t win games. The Cowboys have experienced plenty of hype without corresponding results. Ultimately, the onus falls on Prescott. As the face of the franchise since 2016, he gets praise when the team performs well, but he must also bear the blame when things go wrong.
McCarthy added that Prescott’s current stats do not fully reflect his contributions.
“There’s more to those statistics,” McCarthy stated. “Situational involvement is very high in those evaluations too. It’s six games. That’s another thing.”
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Prescott’s interceptions and low completion percentage do not tell the entire story.
“I think each play is its own. Interceptions happen for different reasons. Turnovers happen for different reasons. But I don’t think he’s pressing,” Schottenheimer noted. “I think he knows who we are. I think for us, we just haven’t been able to play a ton of football that’s been very complementary.”
Although the stats may not convey the whole picture, Prescott has not yet lived up to his average annual salary of $60 million.
The silver lining is that he will have an opportunity to turn his performance around on “Sunday Night Football” against the 49ers in Week 8. What was once viewed as a high-profile matchup has now become a game between a 3-3 Cowboys team and a banged-up 3-4 49ers squad.
At this point, the 49ers’ usually formidable defense ranks only in the middle tier, allowing 318 yards per game (14th in the NFL) and 205.1 yards through the air (16th). This is a notable decline from last season, when they permitted just 303.9 yards per game (eighth in the league). Additionally, injuries to Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk have hampered their offensive performance, which is far from the powerhouse it was during their Super Bowl run last year.
This game presents a prime opportunity for Prescott and the Cowboys, but he must elevate his game if he hopes to seize the moment.
