Dak Prescott’s Big Year Comes Up Short in Playoff Push - But He’s Not Done Yet
Dak Prescott is putting up numbers that jump off the page, but the Dallas Cowboys' season is still slipping through their fingers. Despite leading the NFL in passing yards, Prescott and the Cowboys are on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff picture - a tough pill to swallow for a quarterback playing some of the best football of his career.
Through 14 games, Prescott has been a volume machine. He leads the league in both pass attempts (522) and completions (357), racking up a league-best 3,931 passing yards. Add 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions to the mix, and you're looking at a quarterback who's not just managing games - he's carrying the offense.
But even with Prescott lighting it up, the Cowboys are sitting at 6-7-1 heading into Week 16. That record has them second in the NFC East, trailing the 9-5 Philadelphia Eagles, and 10th in the conference overall. In a year where the margin for error is razor-thin, Dallas has come up short too many times.
Still, Prescott’s performance hasn’t gone unnoticed - especially considering the weight of expectations after signing a four-year, $240 million extension last year. The three-time Pro Bowler has delivered on that investment, showing command, resilience, and a clear evolution in his game.
When asked about what’s fueled his standout season, Prescott pointed directly to the work he put in during the offseason - an offseason that started earlier than usual after his injury last year.
“Yeah, for sure. And I hope to say the same next year,” Prescott said Thursday.
“That’s just the way, what I put into this game, the way that I’ve worked. Going back from being hurt last season, as early as I was, my offseason started a lot earlier, right?”
That extra time, it turns out, wasn’t wasted. Prescott credits his individual performance to the grind he committed to after last season ended. And he’s not slowing down anytime soon.
“I think just the individual performance and plays, that was just a lot of the work that I put in the offseason,” he said. “Honestly, I plan on going into this one doing the same thing, just kind of keeping it ramped and just trying to stay in this groove.”
That mindset - staying in the groove, staying hungry - is classic Dak. Year 10 has been a statement season for him, even if the team results haven’t matched the individual output.
But ask him, and he’ll tell you: there’s another level still to reach. And he’s already eyeing the path to get there.
The Cowboys return to action Sunday at home against the Los Angeles Chargers. While their postseason hopes are all but extinguished, don’t expect Prescott to mail it in. He’s made it clear - he’s playing to win, and he’s playing to grow.
And if this season is any indication, the league hasn’t seen the best of Dak Prescott just yet.