The Dallas Cowboys missed the playoffs last season, and Dak Prescott recently admitted that the late-season stretch became a gut check for a team expected to contend. Their defense played a major role in that collapse. PFN’s Defense Impact Metric ranked Dallas last in the league with a 53.4 impact score.
Now, Prescott has embraced the 2026 hype more than ever and has made the postseason sound like the minimum goal. However, Drew Brees believes the Cowboys still have something bigger to prove.
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Appearing on “The Rich Eisen Show,” Brees discussed head coach Brian Schottenheimer and what he expects from Dallas entering kickoff.
“I think in so many cases, that decision was made because of his relationship with Dak Prescott and because of his ability to lead that team,” he said. “Look, let’s be honest. I think the Cowboys have had this reputation as being a little bit dysfunctional and having a lot of talent, and yet just distractions, and how do we get past all this stuff and keep the main thing, the main thing?
“I think there’s a great connection he has with Dak. I think the players, you know, really a lot of his messaging and a lot of his experience, they resonate with and appeal to those players. He has created an incredible atmosphere. I visited them this offseason. I’m going to go to the Saints-Cowboys practice here in a couple of hours to watch them.”
Schottenheimer joined the Cowboys in 2022 as a consultant before becoming offensive coordinator from 2023 to 2024. On Jan. 24, 2025, Dallas promoted him to the 10th head coach in franchise history. His first season ended with a 7-9-1 record.
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Under him, Prescott threw for 4,552 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2025 while completing 67.3% of his passes and posting a 99.5 passer rating.
According to PFN’s 2025 QB Impact Rankings, Prescott earned an 82.1 grade, ranking sixth among starting quarterbacks behind Drake Maye, Matthew Stafford, Brock Purdy, Jordan Love, and Sam Darnold.
“I get the sense that there’s an energy and an excitement there, but there’s a focus around what needs to be done in order to be successful and to go win and to kind of take this thing to the next level to get over the hump. And I think he’s the perfect guy to do it,” Brees added.
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That belief comes after an offseason that addressed several major concerns.
Dallas strengthened its defensive front, brought in Christian Parker as defensive coordinator, and expects a healthier receiving corps.
Still, Brees’ comments highlight the gap between bold expectations and proven results.
Now, Prescott can deliver MVP-caliber production if he stays healthy. However, Dallas needs more than its quarterback to change the story. The defense must also hold its ground when the stakes rise.
If it does, the Cowboys could finally turn regular-season promise into the playoff run Brees believes Schottenheimer can deliver.
