The Dallas Cowboys’ trip to Chicago in Week 3 wasn’t supposed to end in defeat.
A winless Bears team, still searching for its identity, stunned Dallas with a 31-14 victory that sent the Cowboys home with more questions than answers.
For quarterback Dak Prescott, it was a night that ended in unfamiliar territory — on the bench.
Dak Prescott Benched in Final Minutes Versus Chicago, Speaks on Loss
Prescott was pulled in the final minutes after throwing his second interception of the game. The scoreboard told the story: Dallas trailed by three scores, the game slipping out of reach.
Watching backup Joe Milton III close things out wasn’t easy for Prescott, but after the game, he spoke with honesty about what happened.
“Obviously, I want every rep,” Prescott said. “Never happy about getting pulled out, but you’ve got to be realistic and professional. At that point it was a three-score game with two minutes left. It’s a young season… I want to be healthy and I’m sure that was a big part of that decision there.”
Dak Prescott shared his thoughts on being pulled out of the game late in the fourth quarter ⬇️
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Prescott’s words reflect both frustration and perspective. He’s coming off a major hamstring injury that sidelined him for much of 2024, and while he’s been medically cleared, staying healthy for the long haul is clearly a priority.
In some ways, being benched late may have been less about performance and more about preserving his body for what’s still ahead.
Still, the game underscored the challenges Dallas is facing. Prescott has now thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns through three weeks, three apiece. He struggled in the season opener against the Eagles, bounced back with a strong performance against the Giants, and then stumbled again in Chicago. Consistency has been hard to come by.
Dallas Loses CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys Saddled With Questions at 1-2
The Cowboys also lost their top wideout, CeeDee Lamb, to an ankle injury early in the game, leaving Prescott without his go-to target. On the other side, quarterback Caleb Williams lit up the Dallas defense for nearly 300 yards and four touchdowns, exposing a unit that was supposed to be the team’s strength.
For Prescott, the benching wasn’t about giving up; it was about moving forward. He acknowledged his desire to compete, but also the reality of living to fight another day. That balance between pride and pragmatism is one of the toughest things a veteran quarterback faces.
At 1-2, the Cowboys have work to do, and Prescott knows eyes will be on him to lead the turnaround. But as he reminded everyone in Chicago, it’s still a long season, and for him, staying on the field may matter just as much as how he plays on it.