LANDOVER, Md. — Is Dak Prescott hurt?
Has he suddenly not only lost his athleticism and feel for the game, but also his accuracy?
There must be a way to make this make sense because the quarterback that is playing for the Dallas Cowboys of late looks nothing like the one that started the season, back when he was playing as well as anyone in the league and was widely considered a leading candidate for NFL’s MVP Award.
This is certainly not the same guy team owner Jerry Jones handed a four-year, $160 million contract to last March to remain the franchise’s quarterback for years to come.
Prescott has not been himself since returning after missing one game with a calf strain six games ago, but the mess he put on display in Sunday’s 27-20 victory against the Washington Football Team was the bottom of the barrel.
It wasn’t just that he completed 22 of 39 passes for a season-low 211 yards with one touchdown and two unconscionable interceptions.
He doesn’t look good moving in the pocket. He tripped over his own feet on a scramble and his decision-making was poor.
Prescott had two interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown by linebacker Chase Holcomb in the fourth quarter that nearly keyed a Washington comeback. And he nearly tossed a couple more.
“It was a struggle on offense,” he said. “We weren’t exactly executing the way we wanted to, especially late in the game. But it’s better in a winning effort. Some of the things are just simple decision-making by me and I will clean those up.”
The first interception came in the first quarter when he sailed a throw toward receiver CeeDee Lamb, one play after he nearly fumbled a handoff to running back Ezekiel after tripping over one of his offensive linemen.
The second one came in the fourth quarter with the team trying to salt away a game that was once 24-0 and became mildly interesting at 27-14 with 5:09 left in the game.
Two plays into the ensuing drive, Prescott threw the ball right to Holcomb on a pass intended for tight end Dalton Schultz.
It’s like he never even saw him.
And then no one made a decent attempt at a tackle, allowing Holcomb to return it 31 yards to the end zone to narrow the score to 27-20.
“I just got to take the sack, don’t put the ball in harm’s way and that’s the bottom line,” Prescott said. “No excuse for that, period.”
Prescott and the offense went three-and-out before being bailed out by the defense again with a sack and forced fumble by defensive end Randy Gregory that was recovered by safety Jayron Kearse to seal the victory.
Gregory’s first-quarter interception following a Prescott pick set up the only touchdown of the game for the Cowboys’ offense, a 7-yard pass to receiver Amari Cooper.
The defense had four sacks, an interception and two forced fumbles, including a 37-yard return for a touchdown by defensive end Dorance Armstrong.
The Cowboys, who ranked No. 1 in the NFL in total offense, made five trips inside the red zone and came away with only one touchdown and four field goals.
The Cowboys had five punts, an interception and a field goal in the second half after taking a 24-0 lead into halftime.
Blame a reshuffled offensive line that ended the game without tackles Tyron Smith (ankle) and La’el Collins (ejection for fighting). But the unit was not producing even when those players were on the field.
Blame a running game that is led by a hobbled Ezekiel Elliott and played without speedy backup Tony Pollard (plantar fasciitis). But Washington played the game without its top four defensive ends.
There was a thought that Prescott and the passing game would get back on track with top receivers Lamb, Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup on the field for a full game for the first time all season. Instead they looked off and out of sync.
Credit Washington for playing over the top on defense to prevent the big play.
That’s still no excuse for Sunday’s performance, which is a continuation of a string of off-kilter outings from Prescott.
Back in Week 2, when the Los Angeles Chargers forced Prescott to throw underneath, he completed 23 of 27 passes for 237 yards in a 20-17 victory.
There was nothing efficient or good about what Prescott and the Cowboys offense did on Sunday.
The Cowboys got the win, but for a team that was openly talking about making a Super Bowl run for the first time since the 1995 season, this is a reason for concern.
The offense must be better if they are to contend for a title.
“We’ve created these high expectations and high standards and we have them for ourselves,” Prescott said. “When you are not moving the ball and not scoring points, it’s not acceptable. We got to be better than that.”
Prescott must be better.
He is paid like a difference-maker.
He has to play like one down the stretch when it counts.
The time is now.
