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When you’re a member of the Dallas Cowboys, not only are you expected to win, but you have to win convincingly.
However, sometimes even that is not good enough, which is par for the course when you feature for one of the most well-known NFL franchises worldwide.
When you’re the starting quarterback of that franchise, it’s a given that you’ll get the brunt of those criticisms more than most, and to say Dak Prescott has gotten his share of naysayers this year would be an understatement.
Even Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith has said they wouldn’t sign Dak Prescott to a long-term deal.
The Cowboys QB is committed to this team until 2024, while several moves were made in the offseason to sign players like Leighton Vander Esch, Micah Parsons, and Malik Hooker to extensions while adding Brandin Cooks.
That leaves many believing that Prescott could soon be on his way out, given all of the financial commitments this team has already made.
Not so Bad
Despite the Cowboys being 4-2 heading into the bye week, there are many NFL critics who are not convinced that Prescott is the answer is Dallas.
Over the summer, former New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress said Dak had reached his ceiling and that the Cowboys won’t win a championship with him.
Stephen A. Smith meanwhile, a month ago said Prescott is holding the Cowboys back.
When you’re a professional athlete, nothing will ever be good enough for some, and that’s the nature of the business.
Despite all the criticisms thrown at the Cowboys pivot though, his numbers are not as bad as you might think.
Following their victory against the Chargers on Monday night, Prescott is currently fourth in the NFL regarding completion percentage (69.5%), while he’s thrown fewer interceptions in 2023 (four) than the current leader in passing yards, Tua Tagovailoa (five).
Prescott is seventh in quarterback rating (63.3), leading the league on target throw percentages (84.4%).
At the same time, when you look at their division for as much criticism as he and the offense have gotten, they’ve only scored one point fewer (154) than the reigning NFC champions, the Philadelphia Eagles.
The biggest drawback to the Cowboys offense might be their red zone play, which is clicking at 39.13% in 2023, down the 26th in the NFL for now.
We’re only six weeks into the season, but that needs to improve, given where they were last year under Kellen Moore when Dallas had a red zone efficiency of 71.43%.
Despite their inefficiency in the red zone, however, it’s not as if the Cowboys aren’t putting up some solid numbers, currently averaging the sixth-most points per game in the NFL (25.7).
Are there things that Prescott and the offense need to do better? Of course, but is it as bad as it’s being made out to be? I don’t think so.
No doubt the offense has not reached its peak, in my opinion, especially with the weapons at their disposal, but Dallas is far from the calamity it’s being made out to be.
Averaging 25.7 points per game with a defense like the Cowboys, you’d think more wins than losses will be in their future.