charnsitr / Shutterstock.com
The Dallas Cowboys don’t always get the respect they deserve. People often make fun of them because they’re called “America’s team” and are run by Jerry Jones. It’s easy to see why some folks roll their eyes at the Cowboys.
But, they really should get more credit.
Over the past few years, the Cowboys have been one of the NFC’s most reliable teams during the regular season. Sure, they might struggle in the playoffs, but you can’t ignore how strong they are before that.
Dak Prescott has been a big part of this success for about eight years now. He’s not necessarily the best player on the team, but as a quarterback, he’s super important. Since being picked in 2016, Dak has played really well.
Of course, there have been ups and downs. Prescott isn’t perfect and doesn’t always perform at an elite level. But last season, he finished second in MVP voting after his best year yet.
Despite this, when ESPN asked NFL coaches, executives, and scouts about the top quarterbacks, Prescott was ranked tenth. He didn’t even get a single vote in the top six. One NFC exec told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler: “He always does well enough to be in the top 10 but never gets over the hump. He makes all the throws. He’s playing the position at a high level. But something’s missing.”
Not much substance there—just a vague claim that “something is missing.”
This view isn’t new; many think Prescott is great during regular games but struggles when it matters most. It’s hard to separate his performance from his team’s success.
Was Prescott to blame for Dallas’ playoff loss against the Green Bay Packers? Not really. The Cowboys scored 32 points, but their defense allowed 48 points to an inexperienced offense.
Still, Prescott has had moments where he didn’t perform well in crucial situations. Until he can lead Dallas on a deep playoff run, he’ll continue to carry that “loser” tag.
It’s odd seeing someone who completed nearly 70% of his passes for over 4,500 yards and 36 touchdowns ranked tenth at his position. The top spots go to Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson—but Prescott deserves more recognition.
Aaron Rodgers is ranked eighth despite being older and coming off an injury. Matthew Stafford is sixth with a lower QBR than Prescott last season.
While Prescott may not be top-five material, there’s a good argument for him being in that six-to-eight range. Personal preferences aside, it’s clear that expectations weigh heavily on him.
In conclusion, Dak Prescott is often judged harshly due to high expectations and past team failures.
