Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman understands the challenge rookie Dak Prescott is about to take on when he starts for the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1.
The preseason is over. The real games are here. And with the regular season comes a different kind of test.
“I remember we played in the preseason, when I did, we went 3-1. I thought it was, ‘OK, a little bit tougher than college but not as big a deal as everybody had been talking about,’” Aikman said, via ESPN. “Then we went to New Orleans Week 1 and we got shellacked and then of course got beat up pretty much the rest of the year.”
The Cowboys lost to the Saints in the 1989 season opener, 28-0. The No. 1 overall pick, Aikman threw two interceptions and completed less than 50 percent of his passes in his first ever NFL start. Dallas went on to finish the season with a 1-15 record, while Aikman tossed nine touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
According to ESPN, Prescott will become just the fourth rookie quarterback to start a Cowboys season opener. Dallas hosts the New York Giants in the afternoon featured game on Sunday afternoon.
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic in Prescott, who lit up the preseason by throwing for five touchdowns and rushing for two other scores. He was arguably the best quarterback in the NFL during the exhibition season.
But Week 1 hasn’t been kind to rookie quarterbacks in Dallas. Just ask Quincy Carter, the last Cowboys rookie to start at quarterback in a season opener. He completed only nine passes for 34 yards and two interceptions in a 10-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in 2001.
Aikman doesn’t see Prescott dealing with the same kind of disastrous problems.
“I think there’s going to be some growing pains with him, but I really believe he’s going to play well,” Aikman said. “I think he’ll do a good job and I think this team will still have a chance to win games with him. I’m as excited as anybody is to see how he does and can he continue to do some of the things he showed in the preseason?”
Prescott looked confident and decisive during the preseason. Pressure didn’t rattle him, and he made smart throws to all parts of the field. The Giants will throw much more at the rookie on Sunday, but Prescott looks prepared to play far better than the Cowboys’ rookie quarterbacks before him.
