Dak Prescott is not getting enough appreciation for the stellar season he is having
Dak Prescott's NFL credibility is one of the rarest we have seen. One day, he is the most criticized quarterback in the NFL. Other days, he is the most popular and most talked about player on ESPN not named Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen. That is a very tough spot to be in as a professional athlete. Nonetheless, Prescott is able to block out the distractions and perform at a high level.
That proves to be true especially with the season he is having this year.
Prescott and the Cowboys are coming off of a "commanding" win over the Washington Commanders on Thanksgiving Day. While people were drowning themselves in turkey and ham, Prescott was throwing for well over 300 yards and tossing four touchdown passes with ease. It was the perfect game all around for just about everyone wearing a star on their helmet that day.
Prescott, as it stands right now, ranks first in overall quarterback rating (QBR) at 75.5 On the year after 12 games played, Prescott is completing 70.1% of his throws which is his career-best. He has thrown for just a hair under 3,234 yards, 26 touchdowns while giving away six interceptions (three in one game against SF). He is well on pace to hit 4000 yards and 30 passing touchdowns when the year concludes.
What is so great about Prescott this season is that he is maintaining that Cowboys way of high-octane offense while making less mistakes. Let me say that again for the people in the back. This offense is riding high and Prescott is making less mistakes then before. With doing so, he is displaying pin-point accuracy, spreading the ball around and extending plays for big gains.
Often times in seasons past, Prescott has failed to be consistent in this department (extending plays), as he would collapse after receiving heavy pressure, like many other quarterbacks do. However, in 2023, Prescott seemingly has been able to keep his eyes downfield and roll out of the pocket to make the throw.
He does not just scramble for a measly three yard slide either when being flushed out of the pocket this year. When he is forced to create, he has used his legs to step up and avoid a sack to then make the safer throw downfield to put Dallas in positive field position. That proves to be true statistically as well, as Prescott is responsible for the most "big-play" conversions by any quarterback in the league.
Those big-play conversions have led to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb catapulting to the top of wide receiver ranks in the NFL. Lamb has been looked at as a top wide receiver candidate but has not fully hit that pedestal in his first few years. However, thanks to Prescott's prolific season thus far, Lamb too is carrying his best year to date. It is safe to say that Prescott is responsible for another important boost to his team this year, elevating other stars.