Dallas Cowboys, Prescott hurt in Week 1 loss to Tom Brady and Tampa Bay


Dak Prescott walks away from the podium with a splint around his injured hand.

Dak Prescott walks away from the rostrum with a splint round his injured hand.
Picture: Getty Pictures

The Dallas Cowboys offense was horrid of their Sunday Evening Soccer opener towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, failing to get in the long run zone in a 19-3 loss at residence. Anytime you common lower than one level per quarter there’s a lot room for enchancment. The one factor Jerry Jones’ crew couldn’t afford to have occur, really did within the fourth quarter when Dak Dak Prescott slammed his throwing hand into Bucs linebacker Shaq Barrett’s hand with about six minutes left in regulation.

Prescott’s late-game accident added harm to insult. His thumb harm will require surgical procedure and maintain him out for six to eight weeks. The way in which this as soon as explosive Cowboys offense carried out was embarrassing. Cowboys followers booed the offense coming off the sphere at one level, following one other three-and-out. The offense by no means acquired something going, and Dak accomplished lower than 50 p.c of his passes, threw for simply 134 yards, and one interception. There was nothing good to remove from Dallas’ offense Sunday evening.

Though, not all is misplaced, as there’s a risk that Prescott might return sooner from this newest harm. Fox Sports activities harm analyst Dr. Matt Provencher described Dak’s harm as a ‘Bennett’s fracture’ and in contrast it to Jared Goff’s in 2020. The latter had the same thumb harm and returned a lot faster than anticipated. So, Prescott will not be misplaced for so long as reported, however

Dallas most likely shouldn’t rush the method both.

On the opposite facet of the ball, the protection regarded fairly good. Leonard Fourette ran throughout them for 127 yards (6.0 ypg), however the Boys didn’t let Brady beat them. Finally due to the offense’s ineptitude, the protection was on the sphere for lengthy stretches, though they did a superb job of holding Tampa out of the top zone.

The place Dallas repeatedly shot themselves in each ft have been all of the offensive penalties. They have been holding, and false beginning prefer it was a clearance sale on the boot barn. Dallas led the NFL in penalties a yr in the past, and it seems like they’re able to repeat in that class. Final evening the Cowboys have been flagged 10 occasions for 73 yards. 4 flags have been claimed by proper deal with Terence Steele with three false begins and one holding name.

The operating sport regarded first rate earlier than offensive coordinator Kellen Moore panicked and determined to go away from it. The Cowboys ran the ball 18 occasions for 71 yards as a crew. Ezekiel Elliott rushed for the majority of that, totaling 52 yards on 10 makes an attempt. That wasn’t a foul output, however they’ll want way more than that now that Prescott is out for presumably two months.

In the event you thought the Sean Payton to Dallas rumors have been absurd within the offseason, simply wait till the Cowboys are 0-6 to begin the season. Their schedule isn’t the hardest, however with out Prescott, there received’t be plenty of successful in Large D with backup Cooper Rush below middle. The Bengals are on the town subsequent Sunday, and after their Week 1 loss to the Steelers, Cincinnati might be able to take that frustration out on the wounded Cowboys. After Cincy, the Boys face the Giants (1-0), Commanders (1-0), Rams (0-1), and Eagles (1-0) in that order. This subsequent couple of months needs to be enjoyable for Cowboys haters.

Payton in Dallas is a pipe dream for now and doubtless received’t occur anyway. McCarthy would possibly must take management of this offense and reel Moore in only a bit. Though they have been down, they didn’t need to utterly cease operating the ball because the protection was holding the Bucs to area objectives other than one Brady landing go to Mike Evans.

Even when Elliot isn’t what he was three years in the past, he can nonetheless be a big a part of this offense. Get him extra concerned within the passing sport as he as soon as was. Zeke caught 77 balls out of the backfield one yr below Jason Garrett. Every season since, he’s hovered someplace round 50 catches. So what if he doesn’t have that burst he did when he first entered the league. Who does, seven years into their NFL profession? Dallas must get artistic with their lack of depth at vast receiver.

Minus Dak for such a protracted stretch, the season seems moderately bleak in Dallas. That is the second critical harm Dak’s suffered as Cowboys QB. In 2020 it was the ankle harm in Week 5. Now, a thumb harm to begin the ‘2022 marketing campaign.

Some pundits had Dallas falling off in comparison with final yr, however now we’re most likely taking a look at a five- or six-win crew. Rush has been round for some time and is aware of the offense, but when he leads Dallas to 2 wins, that might be an accomplishment.