Facing early adversity, Dak Prescott didn’t ‘blink’ when Cowboys needed him the most
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ARLINGTON — The measure of a quarterback isn’t taken when things are going his way.
It’s how he responds when they’re not.
This has been a strange season for Dak Prescott. Moments of brilliance along the way have too often been tarnished by inexplicable mistakes. The frequency of his turnovers has devolved into a weekly debate over each interception and whether or not the fault should be laid at his cleats or those of the intended receiver.
The bottom line: it doesn’t matter. Does Prescott make it right?
He did on Christmas Eve.
The Cowboys wildly entertaining 40-34 victory over Philadelphia didn’t change the balance of power in the NFC East. It simply delayed the inevitable. Odds are the Eagles will win the division and Dallas will enter the postseason on the road as the No. 5 seed.
But don’t minimize the significance of what took place at AT&T Stadium in what is likely the team’s final game here until next season. Prescott overcame a pick-six that put the Cowboys in an early 10-0 hole. He overcame another 10-point deficit in the third quarter and a seven-point deficit midway through the final period.
Prescott presided over an offense that closed the game with 13 unanswered points. He completed 27-of-35 passes for 347 yards — he first 300-yard game of the season — with three touchdowns and an interception.
One other thing: he ran six times for another 41 yards.
“Adversity is something he eats for lunch,’’ head coach Mike McCarthy said of his starting quarterback. “He doesn’t blink. I think it speaks volumes to his approach.
“He believes in himself and he believes in this team.’’
That belief had to be put to the test early.
The Cowboys lost to Jacksonville to open the week when Prescott threw a pick-six in overtime. The ensuing days were spent in a public debate about how that interception shouldn’t go on his ledger since it deflected off the hand and arm of Noah Brown. The receiver took the blame himself a few days later.
There was no receiver to blame in the first quarter Saturday. Prescott rolled to his left and tried to drop the ball over the hard-charging Josh Sweat. The defensive end reached up, caught the ball in stride and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown.
The game was less than six minutes old.
“I was chasing him down thinking, ‘is this really happening again,’’’ Prescott conceded. “I don’t know if he’s ever had an easier interception and return.’’
It was his second pick-six in a span of four throws over seven days. McCarthy went over to his quarterback on the sideline. He didn’t say a word. He just punched him in the chest.
“A love tap,’’ McCarthy called it.
The only thing that went through Prescott’s mind was that he needed to get back on the field “to get this thing rolling.’’
Prescott had only one more incompletion the remainder of the first half. That came on a fade in the end zone where Michael Gallup appeared to lose the ball in the sun.
After the pick-six, Prescott led the Cowboys offense to scores on eight of its next 10 possessions. One of the possessions that Dallas failed to score was when it had the ball for six seconds at the end of the half.
Three scoring drives of 70-plus yards. Possessions that consisted of 14, 13 and 13 plays. Prescott was masterful in leading Dallas to its eighth consecutive victory at home and ensuring his team reached the final two weeks of the regular season without back-to-back losses.
And don’t dismiss the level of competition. Unlike last season, when the Cowboys division title was built on the bones of losing teams, Dallas has more than held its own against the league’s elite.
Dallas is 5-1 against teams that currently own a winning record. The only loss was to the Eagles back on Oct. 16. The Cowboys now have wins against Philadelphia (13-2), Minnesota (12-3) and Cincinnati (11-4).
On Christmas Eve, they came from behind against the team with the league’s best record. Three times.
It’s fair to say that Prescott atoned for his early mistake in dramatic fashion.
“I love Dak Prescott,’’ McCarthy said. “Everybody does. He’s a tremendous leader. Super consistent.
“He’s on a unique swing here. He’s played lights out, but one critical play has been a critical play for the other side of late. We all understand and talk about it, focus on it.
“But the most important thing is he just needs to keep firing.’’
Catch David Moore on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM) with the Musers at 9:35 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and The Hardline every Tuesday and Friday at 4:30 p.m. during Cowboys season.
Twitter: @DavidMooreDMN
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