Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is in the midst of an MVP-caliber season. The former fourth-round pick is having a career year and is at or near the top of just about every passing metric. Unfortunately for Prescott, Russell Wilson and Lamar Jackson are having some pretty amazing seasons of their own. These three quarterbacks are the clear frontrunners for the award, but Prescott can take the lead in the race if he can take down Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Foxboro.
Dak Prescott Can Lead MVP Race With Win Over New England Patriots
Before we get too deep into this, let’s stop and appreciate just how good Dak Prescott has played this season. Through 10 games, Prescott is on pace for an absurd 5,154 yards, 34 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and a 104.1 passer rating. Prescott is also a threat with his legs and is on pace to finish the season with an additional 309 rushing yards and five touchdowns. The advanced stats tell a similar story, as Prescott is first in Football Outsiders’ DYAR and DVOA metrics and second in ESPN’s QBR.
The biggest case against Prescott’s MVP consideration is the fact that he’s put up most of his numbers against subpar defenses. It’s hard to blame Prescott for this, as he has no say over his schedule. However, if he takes down the New England Patriots, nobody can use strength of schedule as a genuine argument. Outside of maybe the San Francisco 49ers, there is no defense as good as New England’s. Led by their ferocious secondary, New England’s defense is allowing just 10.8 points-per-game and ranks first in Football Outsiders’ DVOA.
The Patriots have faced an easy schedule, but they’ve managed to stop every non-Lamar Jackson quarterback they faced. Last week, New England went on the road and limited Carson Wentz and company to just 10 points. Wentz had a particularly rough day, completing just 50% of his passes for 214 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. If Prescott can go on the road and put together a strong performance one week after his division rival failed on his home turf, then Prescott should usurp Wilson and Jackson for the top spot in MVP voting.
The Narrative
Winning MVP has just as much to do about narratives as it does actually playing at an elite level. Voters like a good story, and there’s no better tale than going into Foxboro and taking down the Evil Empire. The Patriots are borderline unbeatable at home during the Brady/Belichick Era, and the 2019 iteration of this team is no different.
The Patriots have the better defense and the better coach. What they don’t have is the better offense. If the Cowboys win this one, there’s a very good chance it’s because their quarterback outplayed the greatest quarterback to ever live. If that won’t put Dak Prescott atop the MVP leaderboard, then nothing will.
Even if Prescott can’t win this one, the Cowboys have to be happy with the direction of their franchise quarterback. Dak Prescott has established himself as one of the NFL’s best young passers, and one game isn’t going to change that. Winning MVP would just be the cherry atop the sundae that is Prescott’s breakout campaign.
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