'I Don't Care!' Dak Prescott Exceptional in Cowboys' Win vs. Jets
For the second time in as many weeks, the Dallas Cowboys didn’t need quarterback Dak Prescott to win them a game. They advanced to 2-0 after beating the New York Jets 30-10 to celebrate their home opener.
The defense was phenomenal again. New York’s offensive line was decimated by edge rusher Micah Parsons and Dallas’ strong front seven. Against one of the league’s better running back rooms, complete with Breece Hall, Dalvin Cook, and Michael Carter, they allowed rushing totals of nine, seven, and eight yards, respectively. Quarterback Zach Wilson was the team’s leading rusher.
They didn’t need a strong offensive performance, but they got one. Dallas produced 382 yards of offense. Running back Tony Pollard carried the ball 25 times for 72 yards, and while it wasn’t incredibly efficient, he gashed the Jets when the Cowboys needed it most.
Further, the star of the show was Prescott, at least on offense. He completed 31-of-38 passes for 255 yards and two scores. Against an elite New York defense, stocked to the brim with quality pass rushers and coverage cornerbacks, Prescott was incredibly effective.
So ... what about that "turnovers are in his DNA'' thing? Or the more factual "15 interceptions to lead the NFL in 2022'' thing?
“It’s something I’ve left,'' Dak said. "The interceptions, I guess when you lead the league it will never go away. (But) to be candid, I really don’t care about the questions about them at this point.”
That seems wise. After all, Prescott generated 0.41 expected points added per play and had a completion percentage over expected of 11.7. Prior to Sunday night’s game, only Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen had a higher expected points added per play in Week 2.
The quarterback reflected on his (and the offense’s) performance after the game.
“We gotta score more, we’ve gotta get more touchdowns rather than field goals,” Prescott said. “But at the end of the day in this league it’s about getting the job done and winning the game and being complementary of your defense and I think we did that.
“Very efficient in ways, but we left a lot out there still. That’s the standard of this offense, standard of this team. We expect to score touchdowns on every drive … but overall a very efficient team win.”
Prescott can speak humbly about his performance and deflect praise to his defense, and justifiably so. His performance today, though, is every bit deserving of some credit. There may not be a tougher defense left on the schedule and yet Prescott looked in control the entire time.
The defense is awesome and the quarterback looks the part, too. It has rendered Dallas dangerous in a questionable NFC.
Fans may hesitate to be all-in until the Cowboys face a true test, but it seems that will have to wait until at least Week 4. Next Sunday, Dallas will visit the lowly Arizona Cardinals.
If Prescott is as efficient as he was against the Jets, it shouldn’t be close. And Dak shouldn't "have a care.''
