'Tipped' or '10'? Inside Dak's Cowboys Interception Prediction
Dak Prescott's ready for a new kind of turnover ... a flip of the calendar, that is.
The Dallas Cowboys quarterback had a strong season on paper: his seventh season at the helm of the Dallas offense saw him post a 91.1 passer rating and guide Dallas to consecutive dozen-win campaigns for the first time since 1992-95.
But with that starred power comes great responsibility and innumerable levels of scrutiny. Prescott was unable to avoid that after leading the league with 15 interceptions alongside fellow Lone Star State quarterback Davis Mills from Houston. Such struggles had some fans and observers wondering about offensive life beyond No. 4.
He gave Cowboys a particularly sour parting gift for the offseason, throwing two interceptions in the Divisional round playoff loss in San Francisco. Those errors led to a pair of field goals for the hosting 49ers in a 19-12 loss that extended the Cowboys' highly-publicized NFC title game appearance drought.
Recent history, however, isn't stopping Prescott from making a bold promise for the upcoming season. Our Mike Fisher of CowboysSI.com was present the other day at Dak's kids camp inside The Star when the QB made a prediction.
Did he say, “I won’t have 10 interceptions this year!'' ... as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is reporting? Or did he say, “I won’t have tipped interceptions this year!''?
We will work to clear that up with Prescott himself soon enough. But in some ways, the point is the same.
Set to enter yet another pressure-packed campaign, Prescott acknowledged that his turnover problem has become a "talking point." Whether it's bad luck or a skill drop-off, the rising turnover metric didn't stop Prescott from making a bold prediction - whichever it was that he predicted - that will raise expectations ... and hopes ... of Cowboys fans come September.
Prescott has proven that he's more than capable of taking care of the football: in two of his first three seasons (2016, 2018), he reached that goal of fewer than 10 interceptions, including a rookie campaign that saw him lose only four through the air.
How does all of this compare to his peers? In 2022, among QBs who started at least 12 games (as Dak did) and had in the Dak range of 400 attempts, six guys stayed in single-figures in picks. The group includes the GOAT Tom Brady. But it also includes the rookie Kenny Pickett. So it’s doable.
In the end, what gives Prescott the confidence that he'll return to his former status of safety? He gave credit to the Cowboys' offensive coaching staff, one that will feature a new coordinator in Brian Schottenheimer, who takes over for the ousted Kellen Moore. He's also anxious, in the finest way possible, for a third full season under head coach Mike McCarthy and the new “Texas Coast Offense.”
“Some of it is the offense and them understanding exactly where we are,” Prescott said. “Mike does an amazing job with those guys. They know where the hell to be, why to be, when they’re getting looked at. That’s going to be a big jump."
Will the "jump'' come from less than "10 interceptions''? Or fewer "tipped interceptions''? Clarity on the quote is important ... but the bottom line is rather the same.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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