Dak Prescott has just done something no other NFL quarterback has managed since 1945

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Despite putting together one of the best regular seasons of his NFL career, many still doubt Dak Prescott‘s capabilities.

In 2023, the Dallas Cowboys pivot threw more touchdown passes than any quarterback (36), while C.J. Stroud was the only one to throw fewer picks than Dak’s nine (five).

The Cowboys enter the postseason with sky-high expectations as division champions and the #2 seed in the NFC, and there’s only one way for Prescott to earn respect.

Low to High

Given the season he just put forward, Dak’s regained a small amount of the respect he lost in 2022.

Over the 2022 campaign, Prescott threw a career-high 15 interceptions, the most for an NFL starting quarterback that season.

This season, he became only the second Cowboys QB in NFL history to lead the league in touchdown passes at the end of the regular season, with the other being Roger Staubach in 1973.

Dak breaks record

Per NFL Research, Prescott is now only the second NFL QB to lead the league in interceptions one year and then touchdown passes the next, while the first to do it was Hall of Famer Bob Waterfield (1944-45).

Prescott’s been sensational throughout the year, and outside of maybe CeeDee Lamb, probably their most consistent performer offensively.

He will undoubtedly be in the mix for NFL MVP, though it’d be surprising to see anybody except Lamar Jackson walk away with that award.

Dak’s outstanding season has the attention of Jerry Jones, with the Cowboys owner seemingly keen to sign him to a long-term deal in the offseason.

Prescott can earn a big paycheque and, more importantly, respect league-wide if he can perform over the next few weeks.

Time to Put Up or Shut Up

Prescott is no stranger to playoff football, leading the Cowboys to the postseason in his 2016 rookie campaign.

Winning in the postseason is a different story for him though, with Dak boasting a 2-4 all-time playoff record.

Prescott has a QB rating of 92.3 in six career playoff encounters, with his dismal 69.3 mark versus the 49ers in 2021 bringing that all-time average down significantly.

In the playoffs, he’s thrown 11 touchdowns with only five interceptions, averaging 7.2 yards per pass.

He’s got four rushing scores over that stretch, while being sacked 11 times.

Prescott’s statistical playoff numbers aren’t the problem; it’s the fact he hasn’t put together many game-winning drives at this time of the year.

Down by two scores in the fourth quarter during the 2018 Divisional Round, Prescott helped the Cowboys score 18 points, ultimately falling short to the Packers, 34-31.

He ruined their chances of a game-winning score in 2021 against the Niners, running out the clock with his team trailing by six, losing 23-17.

Last season, the defense did its job against a potent San Fran offense, holding them to 19 points, but Prescott again couldn’t push them in front, with Dallas falling 19-12.

Meanwhile, Prescott’s never won a playoff game on the road.

At the end of the day, Prescott knows what he has to do to earn respect, and that’s to lift the Lombardi trophy.