Even Jerry Jones feels Dak Prescott’s interceptions are cause for alarm.
Rather than defending Prescott, the Cowboys owner questioned his approach to the game after he threw his ninth interception in eight starts during a Week 14 victory over the Texans.
“The definition of aggressive doesn’t have to include turnovers,” Jones said Tuesday on KRLD-FM Dallas.
The Cowboys have averaged 35.7 points per game since Prescott returned in Week 7, thanks to a fearless mindset, but it came at a cost. Prescott’s interception rate increased significantly.
Per Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein, Prescott’s interception rate rose from 1.7 percent from 2016-21 to 3.6 percent this year, the third-worst among 40 active QBs who threw a minimum of 100 passes.
Consequently, Prescott’s detractors assert the team is winning despite him.
“Dak is not a top-10 quarterback,” FS1’s Colin Cowherd said on Wednesday. “He’s one of three quarterbacks to have more interceptions than starts. The other two are Matt Ryan and Davis Mills.”
Mills and Ryan rank 29th and 30th in passer rating. Prescott and Dallas must change their strategy.
While some of the blame falls on Prescott, the Cowboys’ playcalling caused him to fall into risky scenarios.
Per Epstein, eight of his nine picks came in the first half when Dallas used a hasty tempo instead of controlling the clock.
It would be different if Dallas couldn’t run the ball, but it has Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott, one of the best tandems in the league.
According to Bleacher Report, they combined for 15 touchdowns and more than 1,000 yards over the past six weeks.
Dallas, don’t make Prescott throw with reckless abandon when it’s unnecessary. Otherwise, it could lead to a costly mistake and crush Jones’ Super Bowl dream he’s salivated over for 26 years.
