Dak Prescott improved in 2023 under Mike McCarthy’s guidance. The eight-year Dallas Cowboys veteran had an MVP-caliber season, and although Lamar Jackson will likely win, Prescott deserves votes for his elite performance. The league’s top team’s most valuable player, Jackson, helped beаt the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins.
Prescott was an All-Pro this season, but someone else may have been MVP. Prescott was one of the two finest quarterbacks in 2023, but being a first-team All-Pro is better than MVP.
This page explains his situation. Prescott will be compared against Jackson, Brock Purdy, and Josh Allen. It will cover data, statistics, and the narratives of a QB for the most talked-about sports organization. And Prescott will be All-Pro. This is the argument.
The hard stats
This is Prescott’s simplest argument. Allen, Purdy, and Jackson trail his 4,516 throwing yards. With 36 touchdown throws, he leads the league. At 69.5 percent, he topped the league and became the first QB to complete at least 80% of his throws in four games with 30 or more attempts. His four-to-one touchdown-to-interception ratio was second in the NFL, behind rookie sensation C.J. Stroud.Prescott is statistically the best passer, but Jackson is also effective with his legs, just not enough.Even with running, Prescott leads Jackson in total yards (4,758 to 4,499), touchdowns (9), and turnovers (2). Jackson is more of a dual threаt, but even adding legs couldn’t equal Prescott’s output.Jackson and Purdy missed their 17th games, countering Prescott’s volume statistical supremacy. Prescott exited eight games with more than eight minutes left. In his absence, Cooper Rush played 69 snaps, compared to Tyler Huntley’s 86 for Baltimore.With 130 snaps by backup Sam Darnold, Purdy’s case is stronger. In a moment.
The analytics
A two-man bаttle between Prescott and Purdy in analytics. Purdy and Prescott will figҺt, and those who want to knock Prescott down will attempt to do so.In projected points, Prescott has 0.245 EPA per play and Jackson 0.135. Purdy leads with 0.34 per play.Prescott behind Purdy in QBR (72.8) and passer rating (113–105.9). EPA and CPOE are again the top two. Prescott’s is 0.25.Prescott leads many categories of his own.He outperforms Purdy in total PFF 90.8 to 88.4 and passing 89.8 to 83.6.He led the NFL with 38 big-time passes (better ball placement and timing, usually delivered deeper down the field or into a narrower window).He led the NFL in Points Above Average (PAA) and had 14 turnover-worthy plays to Purdy’s 18.PAA evaluates a player’s scoring contribution compared to his position’s average. Thus, it integrates the QB’s surroundings and called plays.Prescott has a PAA of 57, much ahead of Allen’s 41.2. Purdy is 20 points behind at 37.2.Looking at what surrounds Purdy compared to Prescott and how it affects both performances is crucial since the stats are so similar.Christian McCaffrey leads the NFL with almost 2,000 rushing yards for San Francisco. Kyle Shannahan may be the finest NFL play-caller, while Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle may be the best WR/TE combination. If Prescott is statistically better, analytically close, and carrying more, wouldn’t that make him an All-Pro over Purdy?
The narratives
The hardest part is overcoming narratives since many people depend their ratings and participation on the Cowboys’ misery. Prescott being an All-Pro makes it hard to sustain these myths that keep franchise haters and supporters from revolting.Prescott was written off after the Week 5 loss against the 49ers, and as he blew away numerous opponents, the media complained about the competition. Other elite QBs couldn’t endure those fourth quarters against the cupcakes.Prescott’s résumé was so impressive that he led MVP betting odds, but a single losing game against the Bills eliminated him.Purdy once lost three games. One to the Cleveland Browns’ third-string QB and two to non-playoff teams, but he remained in the race until Week 16’s Ravens loss.Jackson opened the season 1-3 in games decided by six points or less, losing to the Indianapolis Colts, Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers with Kenny Pickett in Baltimore. Prescott fell out of the MVP race until losing two straight in 2023.Prescott had two terrible road games against playoff opponents at the 49ers and Bills, but Purdy was awful in the 49ers’ three consecutive defeats and their Ravens thrashing. Prescott excelled against the Rams, Lions, Eagles twice, and Dolphins in the playoffs.Dallas defeated the Los Angeles Rams, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles with the best NFL record. Prescott passed for 374 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover in the Philadelphia defeat. He was the best player that day. Dallas went up 20-19 in Miami after he led a drive. He completed seven throws for 56 yards and a touchdown on 17 plays for 69 yards. If the defense holds, Prescott wins a road game against the AFC’s second-best team and is back in the MVP debate.Prescott’s top-two MVP contender and All-Pro performance this season can’t be overshadowed by rhetoric.