Two seasons ago, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott led the NFL in interceptions, tossing a career-high 15 in just 12 games. And that doesn't include the two he threw in the Cowboys' 19-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round of the postseason.
He bounced back nicely in 2023, however, throwing just nine while playing all 17 games of the regular season. Outside of the 2020 campaign, during which Dak suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 5, that was his lowest single-season total since 2018, when he threw only eight.
But Prescott's pick problem has clearly resurfaced in 2024, and it was on full display for the world to see on Sunday night as he tossed two in the Cowboys' 30-24 loss to the Niners.
Thankfully for America's Team, the first ultimately didn't matter, as the Dallas defense forced a punt on the ensuing possession. But the second one certainly did, as it led to the two-yard touchdown pass from Brock Purdy to George Kittle that gave San Francisco a 20-10 lead.
And that second one was bad. Facing 3rd-and-4 from his own 17-yard line, Prescott rolled left off the snap but didn't have an open receiver. But instead of throwing the ball out of bounds, he forced a throw to CeeDee Lamb on the sideline, only to watch 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir leap up and intercept it.
To his credit, Prescott owned up to his mistake in his postgame presser.
"The second one was as boneheaded of an interception as I feel like I’ve had," Prescott said, via NBC Sports. "Trying to make a play, too much confidence in myself right there. Should’ve just thrown it away. Wish I would’ve put more heat on it so it would’ve been to CeeDee or out of bounds."
The second pick didn't lose Dallas the game, as this team has other problems. But it certainly didn't help matters. It also broke a franchise streak that had somehow lasted for more than three decades, one that now ties Prescott to Troy Aikman, just not in a good way.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott made the wrong kind of history in 49ers loss
INTERCEPTION! Deommodore Lenoir went up and got it for the @49ers 🙌
— NFL (@NFL) October 28, 2024
📺: #DALvsSF on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/USPh5soS18
As Dak had two picks in Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and another pair in Week 6 against the Detroit Lions, he's now the first Cowboys quarterback to throw at least two interceptions in three straight games since Aikman did so in 1992.
That's a little surprising, isn't it? Quincy Carter never threw two picks in three straight games? Drew Bledsoe? Tony Romo threw 117 interceptions during his 13-year run in Big D, but apparently never pulled off what Dak just did.
As for Aikman, he actually threw seven picks during his streak in '92, tossing three against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5, two against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6, and another pair against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7.
The difference is that while the Cowboys have gone 1-2 during Prescott's streak, they went 2-1 during Aikman's, losing to the Eagles, one of just three losses they took that year. Dallas, of course, went on to win the first of three Super Bowls in four years. Anyone see that happening with this 2024 team?
Look, taking responsibility is commendable, but Prescott won't escape the wrath of Cowboys fans (or Cowboys haters, for that matter) with apologies. He simply has to be better if this team wants to have any shot at making the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.
Dak now has eight picks on the year, the fourth-most of any quarterback in the league. And he's obviously on pace to surpass his career worst by a significant margin. He'll look to stop the bleeding next week against the Atlanta Falcons, who have seven interceptions as a team, tied for the ninth-most in the league.
