There’s been a lot of noise this week about whether or not Dak Prescott “shows up in January.” Stephen A. Smith added fuel to the fire with his usual style of the delivery of an empty one-liner …
“Do people respect the man who doesn’t show up in January?”
But here’s what he won’t say. Here’s what none of the viral-first talking heads want to slow down and explain:
The Dallas Cowboys’ running game has completely failed them in the postseason.
Let’s look at the receipts — specifically, the last three playoff losses:
2022 vs. San Francisco (Divisional Round)
• Running back carries: 16
• Total yards: 45
• Yards per carry: 2.8
That’s not just bad. That’s game-plan breaking.
2023 vs. San Francisco (Divisional Round)
• Running back carries: 16
• Total yards: 48
• Yards per carry: 3.0
Same script, same result. Predictable. One-dimensional. Easy to sit on.
2024 vs. Green Bay (Wild Card)
• Running back carries: 17
• Total yards: 67
• Yards per carry: 3.9
Slightly better on paper — but let’s be real: that number liekly looks much worse if not for Green Bay sitting in prevent defense for most of the second half. The damage was already done.
When a defense can keep 7 in coverage, not even commit extra men to the box, and still suffocate your run game — your quarterback is cooked before the snap. He becomes predictable. Your play-action gets eliminated. And defenses sit on everything underneath because they know you’re desperate to make a play.
That’s not a “Dak Prescott problem.” That’s a team construction problem.
By the way, this isn’t mean to absolve Dak from losses; Dallas has been a playoff failure across the board, from the coach to the ball boy and everybody in between.
This is football. It’s the ultimate team sport. So yes, wins and losses are credited to the QB … and yet at the same time, in Dallas’ case?
When 16 carries for 45 yards is all you get from your backfield in the biggest moments of the season, not too many quarterbacks are bailing you out of that.
But of course, none of that gets mentioned on ESPN. Because it doesn’t fit the script.
Stephen A. Smith isn’t breaking down run fit problems or zone-blocking inefficiency. He’s here to entertain. To antagonize. To stir the pot.
And that’s fine. But let’s not confuse that for real football analysis.
