The Most Underlooked Career Moment of the 2022 NFL Man of the Year
Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys head up to Denver to face the Broncos, a team that has been a difficult team to play for the Cowboys to beat over the past 25 years. The Cowboys enter this game as underdogs, which has been a common theme for them this season. Despite being underdogs, Prescott has guided the Cowboys’ offense to rank among the league’s best, a trend that has characterized his entire career. Regardless of coaching changes or roster turnover, Prescott consistently leads elite offenses when healthy.
Since Prescott joined the NFL, he has guided the Cowboys to six top five offenses when healthy and remarkably led the league in points per game for four seasons during the time he was healthy. What may surprise some is that Prescott's outstanding rookie season, alongside fellow rookie star Ezekiel Elliott, ranked the lowest of his points-per-game finishes, coming in at fifth with 26.3 points per game. His best season leading the Cowboys in points per game was the 2020 season. During that year, Dallas was achieving an impressive average of 32.6 points per game before he suffered a season-ending injury against the Giants. This year, Prescott is guiding the Cowboys to the top total offense in the league, and with the talented players around him, their potential for success is limitless.
The most impressive aspect of Prescott's performance is his ability to excel regardless of the head coach or offensive coordinator. He has had five different play callers in his career, and he’s led all five to at least a top six finish in points per game. Many fans would ask this question "What about the playoffs, and where are those points?", but there’s context needed. Although Prescott and the offense underperformed in the playoffs at times, they were not positioned for success due to poor play calling, a lack of attention to detail, and overall ineffective team performance, which has been a theme for the Cowboys in the postseason since the 90s. This year, it may seem ironic, but Prescott and his Dallas truly believe they possess an offense capable of competing with anyone in the NFC, and the evidence supports that belief. Whether due to new players, new coaches, or a different approach to the game, one thing remains clear: Dak Prescott is the driving force behind the Cowboys' strong offensive performance.
