Like Tony Romo, Cowboys QB Dak Prescott can do only so much
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Jerry Jones calls not winning a Super Bowl with Tony Romo as his quarterback one of the biggest regrets of his tenure as the owner and general manager of the
Dallas Cowboys.
In a few years, he might have the same lament with quarterback
Dak Prescott, especially after watching
Sunday's 49-38 loss to the
Cleveland Browns (3-1).
Against the Browns on Sunday, Prescott threw for a career-high 502 yards on 41-of-58 passing. He threw four touchdown passes and had one pass intercepted. He also lost a fumble.
Twice in Cowboys franchise history have quarterbacks thrown for more than 500 yards. Prescott has a similarity with Romo. In
a 51-48 loss to the
Denver Broncos and Peyton Manning in 2013, Romo threw for 506 yards and had five touchdown passes and an interception.
From 2011 to 2013, the Cowboys' defense finished 14th, 19th and 32nd. In 18 of the 24 losses among those three seasons, the Dallas defense allowed 27 points or more.
The 2020 Cowboys defense has allowed more points through the first four games (146) than any other team in franchise history, putting them on pace for a staggering 584 allowed.
But like Romo in that three-season stretch, the Cowboys were in position to pull off the biggest comeback in NFL history because of Prescott. The quarterback's second TD to rookie receiver CeeDee Lamb and subsequent 2-point rush by Amari Cooper cut Cleveland's lead to 41-38 with 3:42 to play.
In the fourth quarter against the Browns, Prescott completed 21 of 30 passes for 254 yards and had two touchdown passes.
But the Cowboys' defense, which allowed a franchise-high 307 yards rushing Sunday, wilted again on
Odell Beckham Jr.'s 50-yard reverse, and Prescott's final pass was intercepted, just as it was at Seattle after he spun free from a sure sack.
On this attempt, Cooper took the blame for the turnover, saying he did not run his route correctly.
Prescott briefly stood with his hands on his hips almost in disbelief.
It was a similar pose Romo had when his fourth-quarter interception against Washington in Week 17 ended a miracle comeback in 2012. Or, Romo's late interception against the Broncos in 2013. Or, after Dan Bailey's game-winning field goal try was short after Romo put the Cowboys in position to beat Arizona in the final minute, only to lose in overtime in Week 13 in 2011.
The Cowboys still have time to rewrite what feels like a familiar script.
"It doesn't make sense and it doesn't add up right now," Prescott said. "But as I said before, I believe in the men that we have, the great leaders and coaches that we have, that we'll have it fixed."
Prescott will give them a chance. As Romo did, he needs more help.
I wouldn't be surprised if that's what Clinton-Dix got cut.
And there you have it.