Dak Prescott showed again in the Wild Card Round that the Dallas Cowboys signal-caller isn’t a perfect quarterback, but he is undeniably a perfect leader.
Dak Prescott was not perfect in the Dallas Cowboys win over the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Wild Card Round of the 2019 playoffs. In fact, it’s a rare occasion when the Cowboys third-year quarterback is close to that mark in a given game. He still struggles with his accuracy at times and makes questionable throws.
One of those questionable decisions and/or throws came early in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s playoff game. With Dallas up 17-14 and after a long Tavon Austin punt return put them well into Seattle territory, Prescott missed his mark a bit while targeting Noah Brown in the end zone. The slight misfire allowed for a tip-drill and, though K.J. Wright made a great play to stay with the ball for an interception, the throw should have been better.
Had the Cowboys defense not stepped up on the Seahawks ensuing drive, that play would’ve been circled as the reason Dallas choked in the playoffs once again. And yes, the defense deserves a ton of credit for that. However, the Cowboys next drive was when Prescott showed his value to this team.
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Yes, Dallas no doubt benefitted from two defensive pass interference calls (though both were the right call). However, when the Cowboys got into the red zone, Dak dialed his own number on third-and-14 and scampered past and around defenders, somersaulting just shy of the goal line for the crucial first down. On the next play, he took it in himself.
Oftentimes in football, we overestimate intangibles, things like “moxie” or “leadership.” However, Prescott is a prime example of why those things matter, particularly to the Dallas Cowboys.
While the 2016 fourth-round pick might not be a perfect quarterback, he’s no doubt the galvanizing force behind this offense. Whenever there’s a big moment, he remains unafraid, whether or not he’s played well, just made a mistake or any situation in-between. And it’s clear everyone on the offense with him has faith that he’s going to make the play that needs to be made.
On Saturday night, he rewarded that faith with the run and subsequent touchdown that sealed a victory for the Cowboys, just their third playoff win in 22 years.
Because he’s the quarterback in Dallas, Prescott’s merits as a quarterback are going to be endlessly debated upon. And, chances are, he’s never going to be an elite player at the position in relation to other quarterbacks around the league. Even so, he’s a leader for this Cowboys offense in a way that’s difficult to describe, but in a way that’s easily seen in situations like Saturday night.