Like it or not, the Dallas Cowboys are stuck with Dak Prescott

Despite Dak Prescott’s downward trajectory since his outstanding rookie year, don’t expect a change at the Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback position anytime soon.

Put down the pitchforks and the picket signs, there is no use. It is time to face the harsh reality that many have feared for the past year. Dak Prescott is going to be the Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback till at least the end of next season, and likely a lot longer.

Whether you like and agree with it or not, the Cowboys and Dak Prescott are stuck with each other. A marriage that will last at least 24 more games and odds are it will be a whole lot more than that.  In 2016 when the Cowboys chose to go with the “Hot Hand” in Prescott over veteran Tony Romo, Dallas made their bed with Prescott and now it is time to lay in it.

If he succeeds they look like geniuses but if he goes down, Jerry Jones and company are riding the ship down with him till it sinks. Now in his third year as a starter, Dak is in the hottest seat he has ever been in, facing criticism left and right. People are constantly calling for his job praying and hoping the Cowboys will find another quarterback, but in reality that is just a hopeful illusion.

Owner Jerry Jones affirmed his and the organization’s faith in Prescott on Tuesday morning, saying that Dak is young and is going to get extended. (Tweet via Jon Machota of Dallas Morning News)

Jones has been very outspoken about his belief in Prescott, calling him one of the best leaders he has ever been around and constantly reassuring that he believes the team can win with Prescott as their quarterback. Now there is no use going back to the debate of the Cowboys should have chosen Romo over Prescott, or Dallas should not have traded their first round pick so they could have taken a quarterback, the reality is Prescott is going to be the Cowboys guy, and if they want to win with him some things need to change.

Did you know in games since 2017 where Dak Prescott has been sacked 3 or fewer times he is 12-5? In his career when Dak has been sacked just one or zero times in a game he is 14-2, an even more outstanding record.

Since the Atlanta disaster in 2017, the Dallas offensive line has given up four or more sacks in a game seven times. In 16 games in 2016, Prescott was sacked four or more times once. Listen, Prescott is not an A quarterback, no one says he is, and for him to win for this Cowboys team he does not have to be.  But, to win with a lower caliber quarterback you need to protect him.

Now it is easy to say any quarterback can post that kind of record when they have that good protection in a game, but when you have a non-star quarterback that is what has to be done to help you win. The little things have to be perfect and there is little margin for error.

The biggest thing for Prescott is taking care of the football which he has not done this season. Far too many times Dak has failed to throw the ball away and turned an already negative play into a turnover.

I’ve been a big defender of Dak Prescott and I still believe this Cowboys team can win games with him leading the show, but it is time for a change. It is time to accept this is the team and quarterback you are going to have for the future so it has to work.

It is time for Dallas to cut Prescott loose. Stop calling such a conservative gameplan, mix things up in the passing game, throw the ball deep and take chances, and play like they have nothing to lose. Clearly, the first nine weeks the plan with Prescott has not worked, so if Dallas wants things to change they need to change themselves.

For good or for bad, for better or for worse, Dak Prescott is going to be the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys for a long time. Now could a new coach come in next season and theoretically fix Dak and turn him back into the player he was in 2016? Sure, but Dallas believes in Dak more than anyone. So sit back and get comfortable. Number four is going to be running the show in Dallas for a long time, like it or not.