The Dallas Cowboys’ season, just six games in, has been a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows. After securing a dramatic last-second road win the previous week, the Cowboys followed up with a disastrous performance at AT&T Stadium, suffering one of their worst defeats in 15 years, falling to the Detroit Lions.
How bad was it? The Lions managed to score on their first nine possessions, with the Cowboys’ defense giving up 47 points. Even though Dallas managed to hold Detroit to a few field goals, the score could have easily gone over 50 if not for the Lions experimenting with trick plays in the second half.
The Cowboys’ defense was missing six starters, putting them in a difficult position, but the offense was nearly at full strength. Quarterback Dak Prescott had a tough outing as the Lions blitzed relentlessly after establishing a big lead, and the Cowboys’ offensive line struggled to provide protection.
Prescott, clearly needing more support, faced questions after the game about whether the team should consider making a significant trade to turn things around, similar to the 2018 trade for Amari Cooper. His response was blunt, reflecting the urgency of the situation.
Cowboys’ Dak Prescott is not getting his hopes up before the trade deadline
Dak Prescott reflected on the Cowboys’ current struggles after their tough loss to the Lions, recalling the team’s 3-5 start in 2018 before they turned things around with the Amari Cooper trade. “We were 3-5 before we got rolling [in 2018],” Prescott said, as reported by ESPN’s Todd Archer. “I don’t plan to be 3-5 with this team, however. That’s up to the front office. I’ve got a lot of confidence in the guys we got in the locker room, the young guys coming on. You see Jalen Tolbert getting better. We’ll get Brandin Cooks back healthy… My job is to make sure I continue to push the guys in the locker room, make sure they understand their role and how to get better in their role.”
Prescott’s response was careful, not calling for a major trade outright, as that could undermine confidence within the locker room. His diplomatic answer, typical of his leadership style, shows why he’s so respected as a leader. However, it’s clear that Prescott could use more support, especially after facing heavy pressure from the Lions’ defense and struggling to connect with his receivers, who weren’t creating separation.
While CeeDee Lamb recorded seven catches for 89 yards, he was targeted 14 times, including on Prescott’s red zone interception in the first quarter. The difference in passing lanes was stark, as Jared Goff threw to wide-open receivers, while Prescott was forced into tight-window throws throughout the game. This reflects a broader issue with the Cowboys’ offense under Mike McCarthy’s play-calling, which lacked the motion and pre-snap movement that had worked so well the previous week.
If McCarthy sticks to his usual approach, the Cowboys may need to add playmakers who can consistently create separation. While Jalen Tolbert has shown improvement, most of his catches come in contested situations. There’s even an argument that KaVontae Turpin should be playing more over Brandin Cooks.
Though Prescott expresses confidence in his current teammates, a trade for a playmaker, similar to the 2018 acquisition of Amari Cooper, could be what the Cowboys’ offense needs to get back on track. Cooper himself is available, but as history has shown, the Cowboys’ front office may not prioritize making such moves.
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