Dak Prescott, taking stock of his season so far, put it pretty plainly: “I’d say I’ve played average, and average isn’t good enough by any means.” He might seem like a saint of a signal-caller taking the fall of the team. But the thing is, not everyone agrees with Prescott. Rather, this ex-NFLer believes the Cowboys QB1’s 2024 season to be going below average.

Speaking on ESPN’s Get Up, Ryan Clark had a hot take on Prescott’s self-criticism and said, “He’s wrong. He has played below average.” Now, before you lose your cool, Clark’s point wasn’t just about Dak’s struggles. But it was also about the high bar Prescott himself had set. In Clark’s eyes, Dak’s “average” doesn’t measure up to the rest of the league; it’s measured against “the QB who’s the highest-paid player that’s ever touched an NFL field.”

Clark might be on to something, especially when you look at the Cowboys’ 3-3 start. And the ex-Steelers’ Safety didn’t shy away, saying Dallas is struggling partly because Dak isn’t performing at an MVP level. “If they want to win games, Dak Prescott has to play at an MVP level. But he hasn’t been close to that.” It’s a tough love kind of compliment. Prescott’s not just any QB—he’s the franchise face, and Clark’s critique is more of a reminder than a straight-up takedown.

Prescott’s numbers don’t exactly make his case easy. He’s completed 63.4% of his passes this season, down from a sharp 69.5% last year. And the interceptions? He’s already thrown six in six games, closing in on his total of nine for all of last season. Right now, Dak’s sitting with a passer rating of 85.5, logging 1,602 yards for eight touchdowns. In other words, it’s been a season of “meh” so far.

Prescott isn’t dodging accountability, though. Which is good. He’s openly emphasized that improvement starts with him. And for Dallas, any hope of playoff success rests on Dak playing like, well, Dak. This Cowboys team has the pieces. But whether they can make a serious run? That’s a Prescott-sized question fans are ready to see answered.

Dak Prescott seems clueless as the Cowboys’ offensive struggles continue

The Cowboys offense just isn’t what it used to be, and Dak Prescott’s numbers reflect it. On top of that, losing key free agents has hurt, and the O-line hasn’t exactly been Prescott’s best friend this season. He’s getting less time to throw, which has affected his accuracy, and post-bye, things are only marginally better. Double teams on CeeDee Lamb? Yeah, they’re still a nightmare. We can say Prescott’s not working with the most solid deck. That’s for sure.

But here’s a stat that might make you put on your thinking glasses. Prescott has only 25 rushing yards through six games. To put that in perspective, he’s currently ranked 37th among NFL quarterbacks in rushing yards. Yes, that’s behind guys like Tua Tagovailoa and Joe Flacco—who, by the way, is not popular for his mobility. Now, we are not expecting a 31-year-old Dak to be at Lamar Jackson‘s level (forget Patrick Mahomes). But for a guy who’s averaged over 300 rushing yards in his early seasons, 25 yards feels almost invisible.

Not even that. Come on, man. At least something to reciprocate the salary that he’s getting. But nothing so far. However, the struggles extend beyond Prescott’s legs. Dallas’s ground game has been nearly non-existent. The running backs have not been able to make an impact, causing the O-line to rank in the bottom half for both pass-block and run-block efficiency. Without a rushing threat from Prescott or the backfield, defenses have had no problem clamping down on the Cowboys’ predictable play-calling.

Heading on for the clash against the Niners, next. The America’s Team needs a spark, and quickly! It’s clear they’re not finding it yet. But someone has to step up. And for obvious reasons, fans want that someone to be Prescott. So, can he turn it around—his form as well as the team’s playoff hopes? The clock’s ticking.