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The 2016 Offensive Rookie of the Year might be even better this season.
The Dallas Cowboys finally got back into the win column this past weekend, and it happened in dominating fashion, blowing out the San Francisco 49ers 40-10 out on the west coast. Many considered this a trap game due to the fact that the Niners, though winless, had lost their last five games before the Cowboys by an average of three points. Others even called this a must-win game if the Cowboys had any postseason aspirations. Either way, the Cowboys went out and did what a good team is supposed to do.
It hasn’t felt like it in a while, but the Cowboys are a good team. They’re capable of doing everything they did in San Francisco (sans the Heath thing) on a regular basis. That’s who they are, it’s who we’ve known them to be, and it’s who they’ve always had the potential to be.
Despite the big, dominating win over a clearly over-matched team, the Cowboys are sitting at 3-3 and are two games out of the NFC East lead after the Philadelphia Eagles knocked off the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football. The Eagles (6-1) have the same 49ers team that the Cowboys annihilated and then the Broncos, who seem to have hit a wall, at home before their bye week in week ten. It appears that Philly may be sitting at 8-1 before traveling to Dallas in week eleven.
Speaking of Philly, they are currently the talk of the league — and, don’t get me wrong, deservedly so. You can talk about the lack of quality wins that Philly may have, but they are still 6-1 and have one of the easier schedules in football remaining — though, they still have to play Dallas twice. Carson Wentz has been generating lots of MVP hype for his play this season. The second-year signal caller has played very well thus far this season, and the Eagles are in prime position to lock up the division and possibly a top playoff spot, too.
However, the Cowboys also have a quarterback that is putting up MVP-caliber numbers this season. Dak Prescott has been on absolute fire these past few weeks. Dak has accounted for eight touchdowns in the last two games (six through the air, two on the ground) and eleven scores in the last three. After putting together a historically great rookie campaign and taking home NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, the 135th pick of the ‘16 draft has been even better this season. Just take a look for yourself:
Dak (Wentz) this year - both at 6 gms: 63 (61)% Comp, 1,426(1,584) yds, 17(13) TDs, 4(3) INTs, 1(5) Fumbles, Sophomore slump (MVP candidate)
— Dan Turner (@dtsturner) October 23, 2017
This tweet was posted before last night’s Monday Night Football game, but the point still stands. Yes, Wentz is having a helluva year. Nobody is disputing that. The point is that Dak Prescott has been putting together elite quarterback numbers himself. Yet, because of two games in which the Cowboys lost while scoring over 30 points, Dak has been almost an after thought.
These numbers are impressive, too:
Dak Prescott has 7 career games with 3+ TD passes and 1 or fewer INTs. Only Dan Marino has more such games in 1st 2 seasons (9).
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) October 22, 2017
Yesterday was Dak Prescott's 4th 3-TD, 0-INT game; he's the 10th QB since 1950 to have 4+ in his first two seasons #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/jcG6RBLyFz
— ProFootballReference (@pfref) October 23, 2017
It isn’t just box score numbers, either. Dak has been carrying this team each and every week after that week two disaster at Mile High. Whether it is using his arm down field or using his legs, Dak has been elite in recent weeks. Check some of these plays out:
.@DAK FLIPS INTO THE END ZONE!
TD @DallasCowboys! #DallasCowboys #DALvsAZ pic.twitter.com/26r2OD28eb
— NFL (@NFL) September 26, 2017
Incredible arm strength.@Dak throws a dart DEEP to @Brice_Butler in the end zone! #DallasCowboys #DALvsAZ pic.twitter.com/bgnxXBsqaT
— NFL (@NFL) September 26, 2017
Amazing play by #Cowboys Dak Prescott pic.twitter.com/PPfinasHxO
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 1, 2017
Just like he did to Aaron Donald last week, now Dak escapes from Nick Perry and gets a big first down pass, 18-yards pic.twitter.com/U4rSdwTIOG
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 8, 2017
Dime. pic.twitter.com/lsGgXkJTow
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) October 23, 2017
Dak is on pace to surpass almost every single statics that he recorded last season. He is taking more control of this offense and is developing into an elite quarterback in this league. Prescott has the ability to stress defenses with his legs, but he also has the IQ and the arm to make defenses pay through the air. His play has been on an entirely different level these past few games, which is awesome news as the Cowboys head into a critical stretch of games.
If you were wondering, Dak Prescott is currently on pace to throw for 3,800 yards w/ 37 TDs & 11 picks, as well as rush for 405 & 8 TDs.
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) October 23, 2017
It helps Wentz that his team is sitting at 6-1, but the narrative that he is playing out of his mind (he definitely has been very impressive) and that Dak is struggling is simply nowhere near the truth. Here’s hoping Dak and the Cowboys (and the defense) can pull out some big time wins in the upcoming weeks.
That week ten showdown between two fierce rivals and two young superstar quarterbacks appears to be one of the more intriguing games of the 2017 season.
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