One could argue that Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is playing as well as anyone in the NFL right now. Fresh off a year in which he led the league in interceptions, Dak has found a way to bounce back in impressive fashion in 2023.
As the final week of the season is underway, Dak and the Cowboys still have much to play for this week. Will he be under center for the road matchup against the Washington Commanders? Let’s examine the situation closer.
Is Dak Prescott Playing Today?
The short answer is a resounding yes. Prescott will be under center this week as his 11-5 Cowboys head north to take on their divisional rival in the final week of the year. While the Commanders have nothing but draft position to play for at this point, the Cowboys have a lot on the line as they close out the regular season.
With a win, the Cowboys would officially lock up the NFC East crown as well as lock in a No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff picture, securing themselves at least one home playoff game and another if they were to win the first round. A loss, however, could knock them all the way down to the fifth seed, depending on the outcome of the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants game.
If the Eagles can win against the Giants, coupled with a Cowboys loss, the two teams would swap spots, giving the Eagles the division crown and forcing the Cowboys to be a Wild Card team that will face their playoff matchups on the road.
The difference between the Cowboys at home vs. on the road is stark. The Cowboys have gone undefeated at home this year and have not lost at their place since Week 1 of the 2022 season. Contrastly, they are 3-5 on the road this season heading into the Week 18 matchup.
It doesn’t necessarily mean they cannot get the job done on the road; it’s just clear that they prefer not to.
Prescott Playing at MVP Level
While many people’s minds are probably made up that Lamar Jackson is going to win the MVP award, some may argue that Prescott has a case to be in the conversation as well.
Taking nothing away from what Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens have been able to do this season, Prescott has been impressive as well, proving that last year was an exception and not the rule.
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Heading into the final week of the season, Dak is leading the NFL in touchdown passes with 32 and has only thrown eight interceptions with a 68.4% completion rate on the year.
Prescott vowed that 2023 would look different than 2022, and he was right on all accounts. He has been more efficient, making better decisions, and has looked far more comfortable in this new Mike McCarthy-led offense.
“At that time last year, I knew this is who I am, just as I talked about then,” Prescott said.
“Some things were tough; balls weren’t going exactly the way I wanted to, some crazy bounces here and there, and some tight throws that weren’t working in my favor. And then your occasional bad interception, which is still happening this year,” Prescot continued.
“For me, it’s just about staying true to myself, keep working and not allowing other people’s opinion, critics really, affect my game or the way that I approach this.”
Whether or not it parlays into an MVP-winning season, Dak has quite a lot of naysayers and proved that he belongs in the conversation when talking about some of the league’s best quarterbacks.
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