The debate over who’s really responsible for the Dallas Cowboys’ repeated playoff failures refuses to go away, and former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho has made it clear he believes the criticism has been aimed at the wrong person.
While owner Jerry Jones has frequently been accused of failing to build a championship roster around Dak Prescott, Acho argues the quarterback deserves far more accountability for Dallas’ biggest postseason disappointments.
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For years, the narrative surrounding the Cowboys has been that Jones’ roster construction has held Prescott back. That conversation gained momentum after defensive issues surfaced during the 2025 season, despite the offense remaining one of the league’s more productive units.
However, Acho believes those arguments ignore just how talented Dallas has been throughout Prescott’s tenure.
Speaking on Speakeasy, Acho pointed to the collection of star players Jones assembled, noting that the Cowboys featured multiple All-Pro talents across the roster.
With players such as Micah Parsons, CeeDee Lamb, Zach Martin and DaRon Bland, Dallas wasn’t lacking elite contributors. The team also produced a 4,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard rusher and a 1,000-yard receiver in the same season while boasting impact players on defense.
In Acho’s eyes, that simply isn’t the profile of a franchise being let down by poor roster building.
Costly playoff performances continue to follow Prescott
Instead, Acho believes Prescott’s postseason performances are the biggest reason the Cowboys have fallen short.
He specifically referenced Dallas’ 2022 Divisional Round loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Prescott completed 23 of 37 passes for 206 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions as the Cowboys were eliminated 19-12.
“Dak Prescott goes to the Bay against the San Francisco 49ers and completely pisses down his leg,” said Acho.
“That’s what happened in that season. Dak Prescott became a punchline because the Dallas Cowboys won 15 straight home games…and Dak Prescott plays the youngest team in football, the Green Bay Packers, with an average age of 24.9 years old, and Dak Prescott throws not one, but two interceptions, and if I’m not mistaking an interception for a touchdown. That is why Dak Prescott became a punchline.”
A year later, the Cowboys suffered another crushing playoff defeat, this time at home against the Green Bay Packers. Dallas quickly found itself trailing 27-0 before eventually losing 48-32 in one of the franchise’s most disappointing postseason performances.
Acho later doubled down on social media, stating that Cowboys fans shouldn’t blame Jerry Jones for the team’s shortcomings because Prescott has been the common denominator in those defining playoff losses.
That said, placing every bit of responsibility on the quarterback doesn’t tell the full story. Against San Francisco, Dallas committed seven penalties and converted only five of 15 third-down opportunities despite receiving a strong defensive effort.
The loss to Green Bay also featured a defensive collapse that left Prescott trying to play catch-up almost from the opening quarter.
Prescott accepted responsibility after both defeats, but the debate surrounding his legacy remains as heated as ever.