Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has expressed his frustration over his recent performance, which has fallen short of expectations following the four-year, $240 million contract extension he received from owner Jerry Jones at the start of the season.
After suffering a 30-24 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers on “Sunday Night Football,” the Cowboys find themselves with a 3-4 record and are on a two-game losing streak. In those last two games, Prescott has managed just two touchdown passes against four interceptions, and since October began, he has thrown four touchdowns but six interceptions overall.
“Personally, I’m frustrated,” Prescott stated following the loss to the 49ers, as reported by the team website. “I’m frustrated with my performance. I know my teammates feel the same way sitting at 3-4, but I can assure you no one is shaken or giving up. Frustration is high, but it’s a long season ahead. The frustration is real, and that’s the best way to express it. They made the necessary plays, and we didn’t.”
While Prescott points out that the 49ers capitalized on their opportunities, it’s crucial to recognize that he has not been performing at the level expected of him. The Cowboys’ aspirations for another Super Bowl run now heavily rely on his ability to improve.
Wide receiver KaVontae Turpin had a step on his defender, yet San Francisco safety Ji’Ayir Brown closed in quickly. The pass required precision and power, but Prescott’s throw was more akin to a punt and ended up short, making it easy for Brown to intercept. Despite this, Dallas led 10-6 at halftime. However, the 49ers quickly regained momentum after the break with a scoring drive, putting pressure back on Prescott and the Cowboys. Unfortunately, just three plays into the subsequent drive, Prescott threw another interception.
“I need to eliminate turnovers, period. I don’t have to be perfect, but I absolutely can’t keep turning the ball over,” Prescott admitted post-game. “I should’ve just taken the sack on that first throw. The second interception was one of the worst I’ve had. I tried to force a play and had too much faith in myself. I should have either thrown it away or put more zip on it to CeeDee [Lamb]. That was a tough moment at the start of the third quarter, and it allowed them to score.”
Prescott is self-aware, recognizing the gravity of his mistakes. His frustration is amplified by his reputation as a strong leader and his willingness to take responsibility for his actions. However, he may need to reevaluate whether his confidence is misplaced at this stage in his career, especially after facing multiple injuries.
Throughout his career, Prescott has often been viewed as a second-tier quarterback, occasionally ranking among the Top 10 in the league but never quite reaching the level of a guaranteed Super Bowl contender. There have been moments when the team has had everything else in place, yet he has struggled to deliver.
A critical self-assessment is necessary for Prescott; he must determine whether he still possesses the qualities needed to lead his team effectively or if he needs to confront the reality that his mistakes are detrimental to their success.
For now, he is articulating the right sentiments, but there’s a limit to how much words can accomplish—especially in Dallas. “Once again, we put ourselves in a bad position with turnovers,” Prescott noted. “That’s on me, and I must address it if we want to win games.”
