One of the biggest storylines in the NFL going into the 2021 season was how would Dak Prescott look after the compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle last season. Prescott had multiple surgeries to repair his injury and looked excellent during OTAs, minicamp, and training camp but nothing matters until the games count for real.
Prescott’s first test was against the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road, and he was masterful. He completed 42 out of 58 passes for 403 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, which was a pass that went off of the hands of CeeDee Lamb.
After going 23 out of 27 in a win against the Los Angeles Chargers, Prescott would make his return to AT&T Stadium for the first time since last October against the Philadelphia Eagles. Prescott went 21 of 26 for 238 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-21 rout of the Cowboys’ most hated rival.
Prescott spoke after the Cowboys’ huge NFC East win about where he is in his game since his injury and he feels this is the best version of him that anyone has seen.
“I said it earlier in the year, and I’ll say it again: I think just getting hurt last year and having to sit back and watch football, a different perspective and just different ways people play this game,” Prescott said. “Going back, the experience obviously has helped, but just studying and preparing myself and then all the work that I’ve put in just to get back healthy, not only the leg but the shoulder … I feel like I’m playing the best I’ve ever played.”
In the season opener against the Buccaneers, it wasn’t just about how well Prescott looked throwing. He looked in total command of the offense. The Cowboys called 28 runs plays during that game, however, Prescott checked out of 12 of them based on what the defense showed him.
That shows that the game between Prescott’s ears has evolved. He’s always had the physical tools since the day he took over for Tony Romo. What we’re seeing now is Prescott showing that it doesn’t matter what you throw at him he can handle it.
Prescott has taken it to the next level as far as his understanding of the game pre-snap. Now, he’s toying with defenses because of his complete knowledge of the quarterback position and what defenses are trying to do.
There are still 14 games left in the 2021 season so it’ll be interesting to see Prescott continue his maturation process as he steadily climbs up the list of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
Maybe just maybe Dak has taken his game to the next level which some didn’t think would happen. With the improved OL/running game and the team in general, he doesn’t have to carry the team each game or be perfect. Some of these young guys have been really productive and will only get better as the season goes along. Couple that with guys coming off injury soon and the FA production such as Kearse/Kazee/Hooker we have alot of reason to be optimistic.
Just that one early long pass to CD in the Philly game put me in a little different mind set on DP. Those deep throws keep the defense honest, and will help the run game. He may be raising the level of his play. Like the great percent ratio. The whole team is looking good, and the TOs certainly help.
All that said, it a long season, and don’t want to get over our skis. Let’s see how we do vs Panthers. But I’m more optimistic now then at the start of season.
I have to bring it up…. I think we should be 3-0 right now!! We should have beat the bucs in week one!! And if it wasn’t for the refs, we would have beat them!! First off, the refs didn’t call the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the bucs and even admitted it 9 days later, and then they missed the offensive pass interference on Chris Godwin on the bucs final drive that lead to the game winning field goal!! If those refs called those penalties we would have won that game!! If our kicker made the field goals he missed we would have won too, even with those penalties that wasn’t called, but if those penalties were called those missed fields goals wouldn’t have mattered cause the missed penalties would have been the reason we won!! The only reason I bring this up is because I keep hearing how the bucs are so good and are still the team to beat, and how we came so close to beating them, but they don’t mention how the only reason we lost is because the refs missed 2 major penalties!! And after the bucs lost to the rams, nobody would be talking about the bucs being so good, cause if we won that game and after the rams beat the bucs would be sitting at 1-2 right now, which is a losing record!! But I guess we can’t change what has already happened!! But I don’t think the bucs are even close to being as good as they were last season and I guarantee they won’t make it back to the Super Bowl!! And I hope we get another chance to play them again, and I hope we’re the reason they don’t make it back to the Super Bowl!!
Ok, I’m done complaining now!! Lol
Hey Cowboys fan I don’t like to complain about the refs costing us games but it’s just odd to me that 90% of the time we don’t get a close call in a close ball game! I believe that because we are called Americas team it’s works against us more than for us! Hey I’m still mad about the game against the Eagles several years back when the Eagles played an whole game without a penalty when on several replays you could see their OL holding!!