In 2023, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott nearly took the NFL’s MVP award home over Ravens star Lamar Jackson; from a statistical standpoint, the captain of America’s Team actually outpaced Baltimore’s man in nearly every category.
The second-place finish really came down to wins and losses, as the Ravens finished 13-4 with the one seed in the AFC, while Dallas, at 12-5, ended up with the two-seed in the NFC and unable to beat their strongest opponents in the regular season.
Still, the 36 TD-9 INT campaign proved that Prescott can put up the numbers needed to compete for the award, and with an improved defense and potentially historic offense, the stars may align in 2026.
Here, I’ll give you some numbers that prove the long-time Cowboys QB could become the second player in franchise history to win the Most Valuable Player.
Dak Prescott Matches Metrics From The Past 15 MVP Winners
If you dig deep into the last 15 MVP’s, which is a pretty sizable sample, you see a lot of matching metrics that Dak Prescott can and has pulled off in the past — here are just a few of these examples:
(Note that all metrics are of the last 15 QB MVPs since 2010).
– 15/15 MVP quarterbacks since 2010 have played for a team that won at least 11 games. Prescott quarterbacked Dallas to 12-win seasons in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
– 15/15 MVP quarterbacks threw no more than 12 INTs, while every one of them posted at least a 3-to-1 passing touchdown-to-interception ratio. Prescott finished 2025 with 30 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, hitting both marks, and was even better in 2023, throwing 36 touchdowns to just nine interceptions, a 4-to-1 ratio.
– 15/15 MVP quarterbacks since 2010 averaged at least 7.7 yards per passing attempt. Prescott reached exactly 7.7 yards per attempt during his 2023 season.
– 10/15 MVP quarterbacks since 2010 had their top two pass-catchers combine for at least 2,000 receiving yards. Prescott enters 2026 with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, who combined for 2,506 yards last season.
These numbers tie both Prescott’s past proven record statistically and his potential when you factor in guys like Pickens, Lamb, and even Ryan Flournoy and Jake Ferguson. He also has a credible running game in his back pocket, too, with Javonte Williams coming off a career year.
Ultimately, the NFC’s top two quarterbacks are Matthew Stafford and Prescott, and the reigning MVP and Rams star is one of the oldest players in football, while the Cowboys QB’s health seems good.
If you want a dark horse MVP candidate in the NFL this year, it is absolutely Dak Prescott.
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