NFL Week 5 ended with two fantastic games, Ravens at Falcons (SNF) & Bills at Rams (MNF), with visiting clubs winning in OT. Week 5 opened differently with Dallas’ putrid home performance against Tampa Bay on Thursday Night Football. The Bucs entered the game 0-4, playing without their starting QB.
I’m going to hang Thursday night’s 24-16 loss on Dak Prescott (24-42, 2 INTs). Am I alone in calling out Dak? Hardly.
Dak leaves the field vs. Tampa Bay (photo courtesy Yahoo! Sports)
Immediately after the game, a Cowboys employee in the tunnel called Dak Prescott’s performance “embarrassing.” It caught Dak Prescott’s attention because he turned around while the employee was in mid-thought. In a post-game interview, Dak spoke about the employee’s comment. His message: “Feel free to speak your mind; just don’t cower away from it.’’
The troubling thing about the loss is that it’s not a one-off; it has become a pattern. It was the second time this season that Dallas let winnable games slip away. The other was the Brazil game vs. the Ravens, when the ‘Boys had the game won until they didn’t. Worse yet, last Thursday night’s performance has become a recurring theme over the years.
Is Dak’s career unraveling? He’s in his 11th season as the Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback, and he has gone 2-5 in playoff games. That body of work starkly contrasts the hope that prevailed when Dak came to Dallas. Everyone expected him to be the savior, leading his team back to the Super Bowl. Now, 31 years later, the possibility of returning seems bleaker than ever.
Currently at 2-3, the only salvation seems to be playing in the NFC East. While the Cowboys trail the Giants by two games, it’s no exaggeration to say the division is one of the NFL’s weakest, if not the weakest.
But hope of climbing back in the race hinges on beating the Packers (3-2) on Sunday Night Football in Green Bay. With a depleted defense and a struggling offense, the Cowboys will have their hands full with Jordan Love and company. Kickoff is at 8:20 Eastern on NBC.
