Elliott unable to save Dallas
Passing game never clicked in Prescott’s second season.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS — Ezekiel Elliott’s return was billed as an emotional lift for a team in desperate need of a late-season surge to make the playoffs.
The running back’s talent and swagger were evident in this Christmas Eve matchup with Seattle. But even Elliott won’t be able to drag the Cowboys into the postseason after Sunday’s 21-12 elimination loss at AT&T Stadium.
A wide range of issues and variables have kept the Cowboys from making the playoffs in five of the seven full seasons under head coach Jason Garrett. Theories abound for this season’s shortcomings. Put this one near the top of the list:
The passing game is broken.
Quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver Dez Bryant failed to rise to the occasion during Elliott’s six-game suspension and fell flat again Sunday. What took place between these two against the Seahawks was painful.
Watching this Dallas offense at the moment is painful. The Cowboys failed to score a touchdown against an injured Seahawks defense that had allowed 72 points in the previous two games. The Cowboys have averaged 17.4 points in the last seven games, and that accounts for games in which they scored 38 points against Washington and 30 against the New York Giants.
Prescott’s quarterback rating of 51.3 on this afternoon marked the fourth time in the last six games he’s been under 61. He’s thrown for 200 or more yards just three times in the last nine games — this wasn’t one of them — and has five games with two or more interceptions this season.
“It makes me respect this league, the game, the preparation and everything it takes to be great in this league so much more,” Prescott said. “Having a first year like I did, I think you almost want to take things for granted. And then you come in the second year and a lot of things just go against you and it’s tough. On the field, off the field, you have to battle through it.
“I feel like I’ve done that. I’ve given my all. I’ll learn from it and get better.”
Prescott needed to be better early in the third quarter. On second down from the Cowboys’ 29-yard line, Prescott tried to hit Elliott in the flat. The ball sailed, was intercepted by cornerback Justin Coleman and returned for a touchdown.
It was the fourth pick-six Prescott threw this season.
“I did a poor job of staying with my pre-snap plan,” Prescott said. “I kinda changed my mind midplay, then eventually tried to get back down to the check down. My feet were not underneath me, a little off balance, trying to throw it over people and it sailed on me.”
His second interception came later in the quarter. The Cowboys were on the Seattle 25-yard line, primed to score and take the lead, when the ball went through Bryant’s hands and was intercepted by Seattle linebacker K.J. Wright.
The Seahawks scored a touchdown 13 plays later to take a nine-point lead.
“The second one, I think I have to throw him a better ball,” Prescott said of the interception.