Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott Faces Critical 2025 Season After Injury-Marred 2024

Dak Prescott faces intense scrutiny heading into the 2025 NFL season after a disappointing and injury-plagued 2024 campaign where he threw eight interceptions in eight games and the Dallas Cowboys finished 7-10, missing the playoffs. Despite this, Prescott's overall performance over nearly a decade has been strong, including a near-MVP season in 2023 with 4,516 yards and 36 touchdowns, and multiple division titles since 2016, making harsh criticism of him as one of the 'worst quarterbacks' an overstatement. The 2025 season is widely viewed as a make-or-break year for Prescott, particularly given his $240 million contract and the Cowboys' pressure to advance beyond the Divisional Playoff Round, which he has yet to do. The team's acquisition of wide receiver George Pickens alongside CeeDee Lamb provides Prescott with a potent receiving duo that could reinvigorate his play and the Cowboys' offense. However, Prescott must overcome the shadow of his 2024 struggles and justify his high salary by elevating the team's performance, as the Cowboys' roster construction suggests a limited championship window. Failure to do so could lead to the Cowboys exploring alternatives at quarterback beyond the 2025 season.