Dak Prescott, who spent the last two years of his career under an electron microscope, enters Week 11 as the Pro Football Focus’ highest-rated quarterback — if that sort of thing excites you.
The NFL ranks the Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback fourth in passer rating, ahead of dudes such as Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, and Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Now, that’s not to say you would take Prescott over any of those players. Mahomes? Definitely not. Jackson or Herbert? Maybe, maybe not.
Passer rating — no matter who does it — is just a metric to determine who’s playing well. And Prescott, by any metric critics choose to use, is playing the best football of his career.
In the last five games, Prescott has completed 70.7 percent of his passes. He’s averaging 308.6 yards passing with 14 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 118.6. He’s also run for two touchdowns.
The offense has averaged 417.2 yards and 33.6 points per game. Their last three victories have come by 23, 33 and 23 points, respectively. Overall, Prescott has passed for 2,604 yards with 19 touchdowns and six interceptions heading into the Thanksgiving Day game against the Washington Commanders.
Dak Prescott ‘cut loose’ after loss to 49ers
Ironically, the catalyst for the offensive success was the blowout loss to San Francisco; after that game, coach Mike McCarthy decided to “Cut Dak loose.”
That meant passing more on first down and giving up the notion that establishing a running game to protect the defense was the best way to win games. Prescott decided he would use his legs more, whether running or extending plays, to help create big plays.
“The way that I feel, the confidence I have in this group, myself, [being in] the zone, I guess you could call it,” he said Tuesday. “Whatever it is — the coaches, the chemistry of this team — yeah, by far the best I’ve ever felt. It’s not just me; it’s a lot of the things around me.”
The blowout wins came against the Los Angeles Rams, the New York Giants, and the Carolina Panthers. They also have wins over the New York Jets, New England Patriots, and the Los Angeles Chargers, plus a second win against the Giants. None of those teams has a winning record.
Two of their three losses occurred against San Francisco and Philadelphia — two of the NFC’s best teams. Until they beat some good teams, Prescott, coach Mike McCarthy, and the rest will continue to be scrutinized.
Most of it, though, will revolve around Prescott.
He has 12 fourth-quarter comebacks and 20 game-winning drives in his career. He’s 26-12 as a starter the past three seasons, and he sent Tom Brady into retirement with a terrific 305-yard, four-touchdown performance in a 31-14 win over Tampa Bay.
Dak Prescott talk centered around playoff performance
But most of the conversation regarding Prescott has focused on his league-leading 15 interceptions last season and his subpar performance in a 19-12 NFC divisional playoff loss to San Francisco.
He passed for 206 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. The year before, he lost to San Francisco 23-17 in the divisional round, passing for 254 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
“I love Dak Prescott as our quarterback. I think the way he’s built all the way through, obviously, his physical skill set is excellent,” McCarthy said last month on Mike and the Mad Dog radio show. “But what he endures mentally and emotionally compared to the other 31 (starting quarterbacks) is unique.
“Speaking on experience of being around great quarterbacks, I’ve never seen a quarterback under a microscope like he is. How he handles all that, and navigates all that, and he goes out and performs every week, I think it’s special what he has to endure.”