Lol no. They realized that they could load the box and the Cowboys couldn't beat them over the top. The defenses that we saw at the end of 2017 and beginning of 2018 reflected exactly what teams did at the end of 2016.
Much of that is coaching as it is Dak, but teams geared up to stop Zeke knowing that the Cowboys couldn't beat them with the passing game.
As with most QB, it's been mainly about the quality of defenses he's faced. Dak faced better pass defenses near the end of 2016, and again in the second half of 2017. Adjustments (both offensive and defensive), coaching, injuries, suspensions, etc. all factor in, but to a lesser degree than strength of opponent.
Prescott -20.7
era avg rtg 89.7
vs. Top 5 Pass Defenses (6 games)
111 of 187 (59%) 1180 yd (6.3 ypa) 6 td 5 int
77.4
vs. #6-32 Pass Defenses (44 games)
927 of 1392 (67%) 10450 yd (7.5 ypa) 66 td 22 int
98.1
Romo -21.7
era avg rtg 80.3
first 6 career games vs. Top 5 Pass Defenses
124 of 213 (58%) 1472 yd (6.9 ypa) 7 td 8 int
74.7 (82.5)
first 44 games vs. #6-32 Pass Defenses
941 of 1472 (64%) 12147 yd (8.3 ypa) 77 td 38 int
96.4 (106.5)
Aikman -31.4
era avg rtg 73.5
1991-92, in 6 games vs. Top 5 Pass Defenses
105 of 187 (56%) 1243 yd (6.6 ypa) 8 td 10 int
68.5 (80.8)
1991-93 vs. #6-28 Pass Defenses
755 of 1096 (69%) 8528 yd (7.8 ypa) 50 td 19 int
99.9 (112.2)
Romo and Prescott each faced Top 5 pass defenses in six games during their first three seasons as starters. Aikman's first two seasons (1989-90) are ignored here. His games are taken from his first three Pro Bowl seasons, his 3rd-5th seasons as a starter. His first 6 games against Top 5 pass defenses during those seasons were all in 1991-92.
The differential vs. top 5 defenses is listed first (next to the player's name), and the raw rating in parentheses for Romo and Aikman adjusts their eras to 2016-18 averages. All three QB performed significantly worse against defenses ranked in the Top 5 in passer rating for that season. All three saw their passer rating drop at least 20 points.
