It wouldn’t be the postseason without pressure, and the Dallas Cowboys have maybe their best path to an NFC title game for the first time since the 90s.
We’ve heard all the buzz around Mike McCarthy the last week or so, but let’s talk about the players I think are under the most pressure heading into the playoffs this season.
Dak Prescott
We have to be honest with ourselves here, Dak Prescott has the most pressure on him this postseason.
He is playing the best football of his career, and the offense is nearly unstoppable at home.
Prescott is on the verge of a new contract, and honestly, if he can get them to at least the NFC championship game, he has earned it.
He has an MVP-type level, that only Lamar Jackson is going to finish ahead of him.
In 2023, he set career-highs in completion percentage (69.5 percent) and passer rating (105.9), led the league in touchdown passes (36), and threw for 4,516 yards and just nine interceptions.
Although he may not feel it because of the way he has played, Prescott is far and away and has the most pressure on him this postseason.
Micah Parsons
The Cowboys young stud is right behind Prescott for the amount of pressure on him this postseason.
The reason why I put Parsons here is for one reason: the media.
Parsons created that podcast this season and has been very open about the media, his takes sometimes get blown out of proportion, yet he has to deal with it.
He has not gotten many calls in his favor this season, but he can’t let that stop him from showing up this postseason and putting on a clinic.
This defense has had a lot of bends but doesn’t break, and they will need that again if they want to make a deep run.
CeeDee Lamb
CeeDee Lamb is next on my list.
He had a career season.
He broke two of the Cowboy’s single-season receiving records held by Michael Irvin.
If Lamb comes out and starts the playoffs with a dud, nobody is going to remember his regular season.
Lamb needs to keep doing what he’s been doing and ball out starting this Sunday against Green Bay.
Alexander does not travel much with wide receivers, so if I were the Cowboys, I would move Lamb around a bit to try and get some easier matchups and let Lamb cook.
Entire Running Game
The entire running game is under pressure.
That includes Tony Pollard, Rico Dowdle, and the offensive line.
The ground game has not lived up to expectations this season but looked good last week even with it coming against the Commanders.
They need to get something from this unit if they want to make a run in the playoffs.
Most teams that do well in the playoffs have some type of ground attack they can at least rely on.
It doesn’t have to be dominant, but at least be threatening to other defenses.
Pollard ran hard last week with two backup offensive linemen. Let’s hope that continues with a healthy group Sunday.
The Cowboys have pressure on them to win this postseason, but I can’t remember a time I have seen a group play better than this team has.