It started out very promisingly in the first half, but deep down Dallas Cowboys fans knew the wheels would eventually come off against the San Francisco 49ers. After taking a 10-6 lead into halftime, the Cowboys allowed 24 unanswered points en route to a 30-24 loss at Levi's Stadium.
So often the scapegoat for the organization's failures, Dak Prescott deserves to face the music following another disappointing performance.
A number of things went wrong for the Cowboys. Special teams penalties piled up and the defense didn't have an answer for George Kittle. At some point, though, Dallas needs Prescott to play like an elite quarterback. He's been anything but in the first half of the season.
Prescott threw two more interceptions Sunday night. He now has three consecutive games with multiple interceptions, including eight in seven games for the season. He threw nine picks all of last season.
The Prescott turnover narrative that nauseated Cowboys fans in 2022 has returned. And it shouldn't go anywhere until Dak does something about it.
Dak Prescott disappoints yet again in Cowboys' loss to 49ers
With the loss to San Francisco, the Cowboys are 3-4 after seven games with a healthy Dak Prescott for the first time since 2018. That year, the Cowboys made a trade for Amari Cooper and finished 10-6 and won the division and a playoff game.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) October 28, 2024
Cowboys fans at large have defended Prescott against unjust criticisms. However, three consecutive games with multiple interceptions is unacceptable.
Prescott's second interception looked like an INT the whole way. It was a forced throw to CeeDee Lamb on 3rd-and-4 and Deommodore Lenoir read it the whole way. The Cowboys only trailed 13-10 at the time. A punt in that situation would have been totally fine.
The ball begged to be thrown away, but Prescott tried to make something out of nothing. That is exactly what he did on his first quarter interception when he overshot KaVontae Turpin with Nick Bosa closing in for a sack.
It is clear that Prescott is trying to make plays for a stagnant offense, but for an average team decimated with injuries sometimes less is more.
Don't be tricked by the final score, either. No team is better at making a lopsided loss appear close than the Cowboys. While there is something to be said that Prescott and Lamb connected for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to make the 49ers sweat some, Prescott's play was nowhere near good enough before San Francisco softened up its defense.
Fresh off finishing second in MVP voting Prescott hasn't come close to meeting up to his record-setting contract. Not many many quarterbacks would play at an elite level with this offensive coaching, scheme and supporting cast.
There is a lot working against Prescott - more than most QBs - but he is compounding the problem with bonehead turnovers and decision-making. He needs to snap out of it if the Cowboys are to have any chance at making the playoffs.