Dak Prescott evokes robust reactions from Dallas Cowboys followers, particularly, and from NFL followers normally. To some, he’s a top-10 quarterback who may sometime lead his staff to a coveted Tremendous Bowl title. To others, time is operating out for the soon-to-be 30-year-old, who’s helmed one of the storied franchises for seven years however has solely two playoff victories to indicate for it.
With two years remaining on his contract, Prescott is at a crossroads with Dallas. It could possibly be argued that he has another season to show he ought to stay their long-term starter. It additionally could possibly be argued that if not for his 2020 season-ending damage, Prescott’s standing wouldn’t be so precarious.
Dak Prescott the Nice
Let’s study Prescott’s NFL prowess alongside two divergent tracks. The primary showcases his greatness — how he’s elevated Dallas since taking up the beginning job in 2016 as a 23-year-old rookie.
Prescott’s 2018 marketing campaign is a first-rate instance of why he’s earned such a beneficiant contract extension. That yr, he took a whopping 56 sacks, second solely to Deshaun Watson’s 62. Earlier than Amari Cooper arrived in Week 9, Prescott’s No. 1 receiver was 29-year-old journeyman Cole Beasley. Rookie Michael Gallup and post-prime Allen Hurns rounded out the wideout corps.
Whereas Ezekiel Elliott dominated the backfield, Prescott labored his personal magic on the bottom, speeding 33 occasions for 203 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and a rating. The staff wanted Prescott’s versatility, and he regularly delivered, making him one of many league’s simplest cell quarterbacks.
Cooper’s arrival had a big impact on this offense. However make no mistake: Prescott did extra with much less within the first half of that season than most quarterbacks, regardless of getting taken down repeatedly. Statistically, he was at his finest on third downs, in addition to in second halves.
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All eight of Prescott’s remaining wins — together with a playoff victory within the opening spherical — had been by a landing or much less. His Professional Bowl nod that season was a testomony to his greatness, in addition to an indication of his impending loftier greatness.
And sure, it has been loftier, no less than at occasions. Excluding the Cowboys’ meaningless Week 18 loss to Washington this previous season, Dallas had scored 20+ factors in 17 straight video games the place Prescott didn’t get knocked out (i.e. Week 1 of 2023). The truth is, Dallas had scored 20+ in 28 of their earlier 30 video games with Prescott absolutely on the helm.
In a type of two sub-20-point efforts (towards the Chiefs), Cooper sat on the COVID listing, whereas CeeDee Lamb was eliminated within the first half after struggling a concussion.
The purpose is evident: With Prescott at quarterback, Dallas’ offense has been elite. Positive, we may reward Elliott and Tony Pollard, and we may qualify Prescott’s achievements by hyping his gifted receivers lately. However many NFL QBs profit from surrounding expertise. The Cowboys’ constant offensive prowess is notable, and Prescott deserves a significant portion of the credit score.
Affect of Prescott’s 2020 Season-Ending Harm
As terrific as Prescott has been, starting in 2021, there have been additionally indicators of decline. I imagine these indicators might be traced again to his season-ending ankle damage in Week 5 of 2020.
Heading into that week towards the Giants, Prescott was enjoying arguably the most effective soccer of his profession, backed by a principally youthful corps of locked-in offensive personnel.
Notably, Prescott’s first 4 video games had been towards the eventual 10-6 Rams, 4-12 Falcons, 12-4 Seahawks, and 11-5 Browns. In different phrases, this wasn’t a cakewalk of a gap month. However Prescott accomplished 137 of 201 throws (68%) for 1,690 yards with 9 TD passes and three interceptions. He additionally ran in three scores and averaged 5.4 yards per carry.
So coming into Week 5, Prescott was on tempo for six,760 passing yards, or practically 1,300 greater than the all-time single-season report. And whereas he took a statistical step again that sport earlier than getting knocked out, Prescott led his staff into the Giants’ crimson zone 4 occasions in six offensive possessions.
As he recovered that offseason from surgical procedure, Dallas handed Prescott a contract that included the most important signing bonus in historical past as much as that time ($66 million). The staff believed in him. They had been prepared for a return to his pre-injury type.
Nevertheless, I imagine that type pale after Prescott bought damage. Dallas paid him as if he had been top-of-the-line within the sport. And sure, I imagine he was. However when Prescott returned in 2021, he was somewhat extra tentative, particularly within the operating sport, the place he averaged solely 3.0 ypc whereas amassing a mere 146 yards in 16 contests. Twenty quarterbacks racked up extra speeding yards, together with 4 who performed lower than half as many video games.
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And whereas he nonetheless shined by means of the air, this previous yr — with Cooper and Cedrick Wilson Jr. gone and Elliott barely treading water within the backfield — Prescott took a major step again. In 12 contests, his completion proportion dipped to a three-year low whereas throwing a league-high 15 interceptions. Prescott’s speeding improved solely modestly from the yr earlier than and was nonetheless comfortably beneath his profession averages.
Because the Philadelphia Eagles attempt to cement their standing as long-term NFC East frontrunners, the Cowboys and Prescott are nearing a crossroads. Was this franchise QB’s noticeable downturn in 2022 merely a bump within the highway, or is it an indication of issues to come back? Can Prescott as soon as once more problem defenses on the bottom, or is he primarily a pocket passer relying more and more on his receivers?
Prescott’s 2023 marketing campaign seemingly will accomplish certainly one of two issues. It may quiet his doubters, organising a 2024 offseason which may end in one other sizable contract extension. Or it may pour water on his supporters, who perceive that whereas Prescott is among the biggest quarterbacks to placed on a Cowboys uniform, he additionally is likely to be on the draw back of his profession.
