Dak Prescott took a beating against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, prompting Dallas Cowboys fans to wonder if the defense was playing dirty.
Well, more accurately, those fans outright accused the Bills defense of engaging in head-hunting.
Prescott took several hard hits during the matchup in Buffalo, including this one with some pretty clear helmet-to-helmet contact from Tyrel Dodson.
Would love an explanation from the NFL as to how this hit on Dak Prescott isn’t an ejection. pic.twitter.com/QLBFuux81u
— Michael Bier (@MichaelJBier) December 17, 2023
That wasn't the first incident either. Sparks flew after Prescott was hit during a slide earlier in the game. Taylor Rapp was flagged for a late hit while Cowboys offensive lineman Zack Martin was flagged for shoving the defender on the sideline after the play.
Taylor Rapp committed an unnecessary roughness for a hit on Dak Prescott. But Zach Martin comes to hit Rapp, which made for another unnecessary roughness... and a scrum between the two teams.
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) December 17, 2023
It's a testy game so far. #Bills #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/oRuHweDeHC
Both plays resulted in unnecessary roughness penalties for the Bills.
Cowboys fans want ejections for Bills hits on Dak Prescott
Given the nature of those two hits, Cowboys fans felt that Prescott was being targeted.
Dak Prescott sliding
— Bill (@BuyHimOutBoys) December 17, 2023
The Bills: pic.twitter.com/kLUUO3cMkq
You have to eject a player for this kind of hit on Dak Prescott. 80 percent of the QBs in this league are hurt. You want to knock out the last 20 percent ? NFL protect your QBs pic.twitter.com/RU9aXLa8Pl
— Davinci23 (@Davinci23638919) December 17, 2023
Someone please explain how Dodson wasn’t ejected for that targeted hit on Dak?? #CowboyNation
— Clint Followell (@FantasyPastor) December 17, 2023
Bills are playing so dirty. Officials doing nothing to curb it. There’s been three late hits not called. Two ejection worthy plays with no ejections. Just classless and scary. Not sure I don’t pull Dak and take the L at this point.
— The Big Leddowski (@LeddyFoster) December 17, 2023
Inconsistency with how ejections are handed out has always been a frustration for NFL fans. In this case, the fact that Prescott didn't slide is probably what saved Dodson from being removed form the game.
Still, the league has put an emphasis on protecting quarterbacks. Injuries at that position are felt especially hard and examples of quarterbacks getting injured are common around the league each week. The last thing the NFL wants is an MVP candidate and quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys to be knocked out of a game because a defender went high.
The Cowboys fell behind 14-0 early before finally getting on the board with a field goal midway through the second quarter. Prescott was just 4-of-9 for 37 yards passing in the first half. He did run for 18 yards on two carries but Dallas' offense struggled to get things going while the Bills mounted multiple long scoring drives as the Cowboys defense struggled to get off the field.