Former NFL QB defends Cowboys' Dak Prescott amid criticisms

Former NFL quarterback and current Auburn Sports Network analyst Jason Campbell suggested Dallas Cowboys starter Dak Prescott received too much blame after Prescott tossed three interceptions in last Sunday's 42-10 blowout loss at the San Francisco 49ers. 

"You see the criticism this man is getting, just the way he’s being talked about, and it’s definitely not all on him," Campbell said about Prescott during a recent chat with Jason Reid of Andscape. "For example, look at their defense, which got whipped pretty good. The 49ers went up and down the field on them, on a defense that’s supposed to be one of the best in the NFL. All of a sudden you look up and you're down by two touchdowns. That’s not on Dak."

In total, Prescott completed just 14-of-24 pass attempts for 153 yards with a touchdown and three picks against what thus far has looked like the season's best team that may be getting better with each performance. Campbell believes Dallas head coach and offensive play-caller Mike McCarthy did his QB1 few favors before and during the "Sunday Night Football" debacle at San Francisco's Levi's Stadium. 

"The Cowboys' scheme just wasn’t … it wasn’t aggressive," Campbell noted. "And that’s not on the quarterback. That’s not on Dak. When I was watching Dak, I could tell it was tough on him from a scheme standpoint. I’ve been in schemes when you’re not allowed to be aggressive. If [an opponent] is being aggressive … it makes a big difference."

Prescott signed a four-year contract in March 2021 but hasn't yet inked an extension and theoretically could be asked to compete with new acquisition Trey Lance for the starting job as soon as next summer. For now, Campbell knows Prescott must do whatever possible to put such distractions and any on-the-field struggles out of his mind. 

"As a quarterback in the National Football League, you can never lose confidence in yourself," Campbell explained. "If you do, that’s when everything goes down. He’s just got to put this behind him, go back out there and cut it loose."

According to ESPN stats, Prescott enters this weekend ranked eighth in the NFL among qualified players with a 64.9 adjusted QBR and 19th with an 87.5 passer rating on the season. He threw five touchdown passes and four interceptions across the campaign's first five games and will look to bounce back when the 3-2 Cowboys play at the 2-2 Los Angeles Chargers this coming Monday night.