The Dallas Cowboys are having a strange season, competing fiercely with teams like the Green Bay Packers, yet looking completely lost at times. The offense, led by Dak Prescott, is sharp, but the defense continues to struggle. And with that imbalance, it’s Prescott who’s bearing the pressure.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer is clear about what needs to change. “We gotta coach better. We gotta play better, we’re a physical football team, we didn’t show it (on Sunday),” he said post-game. His words reflect the frustration within the building, and the lack of energy on the field. The Athletic’s John Machota summed it up bluntly.

“But the way things stand, Dallas has to be perfect on offense to have any chance of winning, even against teams like Carolina, who no one is expecting to make the playoffs,” Machota wrote. Given the Cowboys’ current inconsistency, especially on defense, it’s hard to argue with that. The analyst’s observation also hints at deeper issues, possibly coaching, since the burden to be flawless falls entirely on the offense.

The Cowboys’ run game has fallen apart. Before Week 6, they ranked in the top 10 with 134 rushing yards per game. But against Carolina, they managed just 31 yards on 19 carries, against a defense that had been allowing 107 per game.

Dak Prescott tried to carry the offense through the air, but it stalled when it mattered most. Their final drive ended in a brutal three-and-out, losing eight yards and sealing the loss. Still, Prescott and George Pickens kept things interesting.

Dak completed 25 of 34 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns, with a 124.8 passer rating. Pickens was electric, hauling in nine catches for 168 yards and a score. The chemistry is there; the balance isn’t. And that’s where things get tricky. Because, defensively, Dallas is a mess.

They’re already on their third defensive coordinator in three years. New coach Matt Eberflus is trying to fix it with a new zone-heavy system, but it’s nowhere near working. Six games in, the Cowboys are giving up 412 yards and 31 points a game, the worst in the league.

Still, amid all the chaos, Prescott isn’t panicking. Instead, he has a warning for his offense.

Dak Prescott’s warning to Cowboys’ offense

The Cowboys’ trip to Carolina was meant to be a tight game, one decided by small moments and execution. And that’s exactly how it went, except those moments slipped away from Dallas. Missed chances, failed conversions, and an offense that couldn’t finish drives cost them dearly.

The Carolina Panthers did just enough to capitalize, leaving the Cowboys frustrated once again. Dak Prescott, though, didn’t sugarcoat a thing afterward.

“If we don’t score, last thing I’m going is being frustrated at the defense,” Prescott said. “That’s my problem, somebody on offense, or something that we didn’t do better.” Dak knows this offense has enough firepower to put games away. But when they don’t, it’s on them, not anyone else.

Still, there’s no time for self-pity in Big D. The Cowboys barely have a week to regroup before the Washington Commanders roll into AT&T Stadium for a divisional showdown. The lights will be bright, and the stakes even higher.

Now, the pressure is on everyone, from Brian Schottenheimer’s play-calling to every player in that huddle. So, the Cowboys need to prove they’re still contenders. So let’s see how Dak Prescott and co. show up next week.