Inside The Star
Dak Prescott is 1–19 when trailing by 10+ at halftime, which is a stat no quarterback wants— and the Cowboys’ defense keeps failing when he needs them most.
When Dak Prescott trails by double digits at halftime, the numbers are staggering.
In his Dallas Cowboys career, Prescott is 1–19 when down by 10 or more at halftime — a stat that highlights how Dallas falters when forced to play from behind.
And while much of the public criticism falls on Prescott, the truth is clear: the Cowboys’ defense has been the biggest culprit when the scoreboard turns ugly early.
Prescott’s lone win in these situations came in Week 2 of the 2020 season against the Atlanta Falcons. Dallas trailed 29–10 at halftime but stormed back to win 40–39 in one of the most dramatic finishes in team history.
That game remains the rare example where both sides of the ball found rhythm — the defense tightened up, and Prescott executed nearly flawlessly.
Since then, that kind of complementary football has been almost nonexistent when Dallas falls behind.
In nearly every one of those 19 losses, the Cowboys’ defense has failed to provide the spark needed for a comeback.
When Dallas is down early, the defense rarely forces takeaways or gets crucial third-down stops. Those failures keep the offense on the sideline while opponents control tempo and drain the clock — a fatal combination for comeback chances.
Under head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the Cowboys’ offense has improved in rhythm and play-calling balance. But no amount of offensive creativity can overcome a defense that gives up 33 points per game when trailing by double digits at the half.
The lack of takeaways, inconsistent pressure, and poor tackling have erased any margin for error. Prescott often finds himself needing to score on every drive to stay within reach — a formula that rarely works against playoff-caliber opponents.
This isn’t just about scheme. It’s about execution, communication, and accountability. The defense that once defined Dallas with swagger and aggression has too often disappeared when games slip out of control early.
Prescott’s 1–19 career record when trailing by 10 or more at halftime isn’t a quarterback flaw — it’s a team-wide failure.
Until the Cowboys’ defense starts generating stops and turnovers when they matter most, Dallas will remain a front-running team that crumbles under adversity.
Schottenheimer can fix the offensive tempo, but without defensive resistance, comebacks will stay rare.
If the Cowboys want to rewrite this narrative,...
