Troy Aikman raised doubts about Dak Prescott replicating his 2025 performance during an appearance on ESPNs Get Up. The former quarterback pointed to an important condition for the upcoming season. Can the offense continue to play at the level they did last year? Thats a big if, Aikman during a recent appearance on ESPNs Get Up. The comment landed at a time when Dallas expects its roster to improve acro s the board. Prescott entered the MVP conversation for half of last season. George Pickens and Javonte Williams each posted career years under Brian Schottenheimer. The Cowboys ranked in the top 10 in scoring and ran the ball effectively. Aaron Brewer Jersey Those offensive numbers carried a hidden cause. Matt Eberflus directed the worst defense in the NFL. Dallas played from behind constantly and needed shootouts to stay competitive each week. The inflated production stemmed from nece sity rather than sustainable efficiency. When a defense surrenders points at that rate, the quarterback throws more, and the offense accelerates to compensate. Christian Parker now controls the defensive unit. Several offseason additions and a productive draft cla s have created reasonable expectations for improvement on that side of the ball. Jerry Jones invested in defensive upgrades this offseason. The front office added veteran signings and drafted players designed to fix the leagues worst unit from a year ago. If youre a Cowboys fan, you hope the offensive numbers dont look as good, Aikman said. The logic follows a clear path. A functional defense reduces the pre sure on Prescott to perform at an extreme level every week. Lower offensive output would signal that Dallas no longer needs 30 points per game to win. That shift would represent actual progre s rather than statistical decline. Dallas opens 2026 against the before hosting the on Thanksgiving Day. Those games will show whether Aikmans concern was justified. More NFL news: Tae Daley Jersey