Prescott pushes Romo decision down road
ARLINGTON — Dak Prescott will start against Cleveland after the rookie quarterback looked like Tony Romo in rallying Dallas past Philadelphia in the fourth quarter and overtime for his sixth straight win.
That’s what Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said after the 29-23 victory over the Eagles that put Dallas two games up in the NFC East.
Hold on a minute, though. Jones wasn’t saying Prescott is taking Romo’s job. The owner simply said the Cowboys’ 10-year starter won’t be ready Sunday at Cleveland as he works his way back into shape after breaking a bone in his back in the preseason.
“My opinion is that we would want him to have more strength and work done,” Jones said Sunday night. “He’s really doing well, probably as well as any time last year as far as aspects of strength in his back is concerned, but he’s got some more to do.”
So the Cowboys (6-1) can continue to delay the question of what happens when Romo is ready. But with Prescott having a good shot at a seventh straight victory against the winless Browns, it’s unlikely the issue will get any less complicated.
Prescott has won games coming from behind and comfortably leading. He played well in his only loss, by a point to the New York Giants in the opener.
Finding a way to win
What was impressive about his latest outing was how unimpressive Prescott, 23, was most of the game. He bounced multiple throws and tossed an end-zone interception — just his second pick of the season — that ended up putting Dallas behind at halftime.
Yet he found a way to get even with a 22-yard touchdown throw to Dez Bryant late in regulation to cap a 90-yard drive, and he led a winning 75-yard march to start the extra period, capped by a 5-yard scoring pass to Jason Witten.
Once again, he showed all the attributes that have had his coaches and teammates raving for weeks.
“I’m not going to stop,” said Prescott, who completed all five passes in overtime to finish 19-of-39 for 287 yards. “I don’t care how bad I play early on. I don’t care what I do. I’m not going to give up.”
Prescott’s mobility is noteworthy as well, particularly with Romo looking less and less mobile as the back injuries (four in less than four years) pile up. The injury in a preseason game at Seattle came when Romo tried to escape the pocket and was tackled awkwardly from behind.
Different skill set
In the win over the Eagles, the Cowboys got their first touchdown on a zone read when Prescott kept and scored untouched from 7 yards. It was his fourth rushing TD, the most for a Dallas quarterback since Danny White had four in 1983. The franchise record for a quarterback is five.
On the tying drive in regulation, Prescott had a 12-yard scramble that was yet another example of a play Romo, 36, likely can’t make anymore.
Or as Jones would put it, he looked like a younger Romo, including on the winning throw to Witten when Prescott spun to his left and created enough confusion for the defense to leave Witten alone in the end zone.
“We’re a close group of guys,” said rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott, who had a four-game streak of 100-yard games snapped, finishing with 96. “We’re not going to let anything come between us.”
But a test is coming in the form of lots of quarterback talk.