LANDOVER, Md. — It’s been an outstanding individual season for Dak Prescott. He was named to his fourth Pro Bowl on Tuesday. The Dallas Cowboys quarterback has also climbed to the top of the franchise’s record book in several categories.
When asked last month which record he takes the most pride in, Prescott said it was being the team’s career leader in completion percentage. The 10-year veteran entered Thursday’s game against the Washington Commanders completing 67 percent of his passes. Tony Romo is second at 65.3 percent. Troy Aikman is third at 61.5 percent.
“That’s something that’s hard to do,” Prescott said last month. “It’s hard to do every year, each game, and that’s something that I actually don’t think about the long haul of it. I just go into every game, honestly, trying to get 80 percent, and that’s such a steep number. But that’s what I want. Any incompletion I don’t like, unless it’s a good one (where) I have to throw it away and have to live to the next play. That’s probably the one (record) I’m most proud of.”
While the Cowboys held on to win 30-23 over Washington at Northwest Stadium on Christmas Day, Prescott’s play wasn’t close to his best. He only completed 51.4 percent of his passes, a season-low and eighth-lowest in his 138 career games. But it should be his last game of the season.
“It definitely wasn’t my sharpest,” Prescott said Thursday afternoon. “I got to go back and look at film. I know a couple of them, they did a good job of putting a top on it. I wanted to be greedy early and honestly had some of my shots and missed them. … Just missed some throws. … We were able to get a win, though. That’s the most important part of it.”
Prescott still had plenty of highlights, especially while leading the offense to three touchdowns on their first three possessions. He finished with 307 passing yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 97.5 passer rating. He also ran four times for 24 yards.
Dallas has one game remaining, next week against the New York Giants in Newark, N.J. Neither team has a chance at the playoffs. But Cowboys front-office members, coaches and players have recently spoken about the importance of finishing the season strong with positive momentum heading into the offseason. The win Thursday, coupled with a victory next week, would give the Cowboys an 8-8-1 finish overall and 5-1 record in the NFC East.
Prescott said after Thursday’s game that he still wants to play in Week 18.
“I love this game,” he added. “I love any opportunity I get to play it. That being said, if I get to go out there, I’m going to give it my best. I’m going to prepare the same way. I’m going to be the same player that you guys know. I understand the reasons why maybe not. If I’m approached with that, I’ll handle that then.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan that they will “measure it all and keep in mind the health of a key player like Dak.”
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer gave one of his shortest answers of the season last week when asked about the possibility of playing backup quarterback Joe Milton in the final two games if Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention.
“I want to win,” he responded. “So the plan will be to play Dak.”
Schottenheimer was asked about that again on Thursday during a question about Prescott being sacked six times by the Commanders.
“I’m going to enjoy Christmas, man,” he said. “I’m going to have some eggnog. And I’ll deal with that when I get looking back to the film. We’re playing to win.”
Forget positive momentum to end the season, the last thing the Cowboys need is bad momentum off a Prescott injury, especially if it was a significant one that would impact the start of next season. The Cowboys are set up to again have one of the NFL’s best offenses next year. Keep that intact and focus on fixing one of the league’s worst defenses, which was again on display Thursday.
The red zone defense and holding Washington to 1 for 6 on third downs were a couple of things that Schottenheimer praised after the game. But that side of the ball is nowhere close to being good enough for Dallas to be a legitimate playoff team.
The poor tackling continued. There were again too many big plays, none bigger than a 72-yard touchdown run where Washington running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt was basically untouched. Plays like that kept things much closer than they needed to be against a team starting Josh Johnson. The journeyman quarterback was starting his first game since 2021. Dallas sacked him only once.
Prescott was sacked six times Thursday and limiting the number of hits he takes next week vs. the Giants should be a team priority. (Amber Searls / Imagn Images)
“(I’m) excited,” Schottenheimer said about his current outlook. “Got one more (game), one more championship opportunity left and want to go out with a win. I want to finish the season 5-1 hopefully in the division, and 8-8-1 (overall). But, give these guys a few days off. They deserve it. They need it. They’re beat up.”
The last thing the Cowboys need is to have Prescott, who has been sacked 14 times in the last four games, get beaten up in a season finale with no postseason possibilities. But the Cowboys also can’t leave that decision up to the franchise QB. His choice is clear.
So, maybe there is a middle ground where Prescott starts but only plays a series or two before allowing Milton to finish off the game. It’s important to note that Dallas has never had a losing record when Prescott has been healthy enough to play all season.
“Big difference,” Prescott said when asked about the difference between 8-8-1 and 7-9-1. “A lot of pride. I think that’s another reason to point to that I want to play. In a season of me being healthy, in all my life career, I’ve never had a season under .500. So that tie is going to come into play really well. It’s a huge difference. It’s one of those things that, I mean, yeah, it’s just pride. It’s pride, honestly.”