Something that is becoming all but the norm is the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott’s current six-game dominance over the New York Giants. After getting swept by the Giants in his rookie year, Dak has exacted his first-year demons and been incredible against his NFC East rival.
On Monday Night Football, Dak Prescott threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns while completing 63% of his passes for a passer rating of 101.7 and a QBR of 81. Over his last six games against the Giants, he’s averaging 301.5 passing yards and 2.83 passing touchdowns per game during that span.
After a rough start last night, Prescott regained his composure and was aided by some big plays in the passing game as the Cowboys beat the Giants 37-18 to move to 5-3 on the season. What he showed in the win is the same thing he’s shown throughout his career, that he doesn’t let a bad start get him down.
With an interception on the first play of the game, the New York Giants were gifted with the ball at the Dallas Cowboys eight-yard line to start the game. Things could have gone really south, but Prescott was bailed out by the defense holding the Giants to three points instead of seven.
Prescott and the offense struggled with penalties, drops, and a Randall Cobb fumble that kept them from getting anything consistent going in the first half. Things weren’t going well until Blake Jarwin rumbled down the sideline for the 42-yard touchdown.
Though a lot of the work was done by Jarwin on that touchdown catch, and by Michael Gallup on his touchdown as well, Prescott’s ability to move around the pocket, scramble, and buy time helped set up both scores.
Most importantly, in the Cowboys last six games against the New York Giants, they’re 6-0 with an average margin of victory of 13.5 points. The Cowboys have scored 30 points or more three games in a row against the Giants and four of their last five matchups. After early career struggles, it’s clear that a Prescott led team owns the New York Giants.
Prescott now has a passer rating of 102.7 on the season, which would have him sitting eighth in the NFL at this point in the season. His 77.8 QBR through eight games sits behind only Russell Wilson who has a QBR of 78.5. By whatever measure you look at in the 2019 season, Dak Prescott is having a career year.
He’s been so good that he’s been able to overcome 21 dropped passes, tied for the most in the league and Prescott’s only played eight games. The Cowboys pass-catchers are averaging nearly 3 drops per game this season. Despite the drops, he’s fifth in the NFL in completion percentage (Per ESPN). In Pro Football Focus’ Adjusted Completion Percentage, which takes into account drops and throwaways, Prescott ranks third in the NFL at 80.5%.
He’s fifth in yards per game with 297, which puts him on pace for 4,752 passing yards this season. His 15 passing touchdowns through eight games put him on pace for 30, which would eclipse his previous career-high by seven passing TDs.
Prescott has been excellent in 2019 and his six-game dominance of the New York Giants only continues to showcase that fact. There’s a tough slate of games coming for Prescott and the Cowboys, but there’s no reason to believe this team can’t string a few wins together and put themselves in position to win the NFC East down the stretch.
With his play, Dak Prescott has rightfully put himself in the MVP conversation in some circles. Though others still want to point to the overall talent on offense, Prescott’s been excellent in overcoming long down and distances or early deficits consistently putting his team in a position to win games.
