Jerry Jones still says Dak Prescott is the Cowboys’ quarterback
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Tony Romo was slipping on the jacket to his suit when Jerry Jones squashed any thought that a quarterback controversy could erupt on a team with just three games remaining and only two losses.
“No. No. No. No,” Jones said, when asked if Dak Prescott‘s ineffectiveness could factor into a change. “No, it does not.”
Alright. But about that ineffectiveness. The New York Giants, in their 10-7 victory Sunday night, revealed a more tentative, less confident, far less efficient quarterback than we have seen in Dallas this season. Prescott completed just 17-of-37 passes for 165 yards. He was sacked three times and intercepted twice. The Cowboys converted just 1-of-15 third-down opportunities, alarming because it followed the game against the Vikings — a victory — in which the Cowboys converted just 1-of-9 third downs. This was also Prescott’s first game in which he threw multiple interceptions, and the team hit its season low in points and yards (260).
It all led to a curious play call with 7:40 remaining and the Cowboys facing third and 11. The Giants had already taken the lead, but Eli Manning had been intercepted. That was the game in miniature — the Giants were winning despite their own feeble offense and the Cowboys were in this game because of a defense that looked better than it had all season. But on this play, the Cowboys showed that their confidence in their rookie quarterback is not limitless. On third and 11, the Cowboys ran a toss left to Ezekiel Elliott that the Giants swarmed for a six-yard loss. Elliott is a most valuable player candidate, but that call was the ultimate play it safe and hope the defense holds decision.
Still, Jones insisted that his confidence level in Prescott is high.
“Outstanding,” Jones said. “He’s got 13 NFL ballgames at a high level under his belt and what’s he got, four interceptions now? Four? So four interceptions. I feel good about our quarterback and I like where we are at the quarterback position. We should have asked and wanted him to make the drive that might have won this thing for us tonight. I don’t want to make excuses. Most of what happened to us tonight was a well-coached New York Giants defense.”
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