The quarterback of the reigning NFC East champions appears very optimistic these days. Will 2022 be a big year for Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys?
For the most part, the 2021 campaign was a successful one for Mike McCarthy’s club.
The Dallas Cowboys rebounded from a 6-10 showing to capture the NFC East with a 12-5 record. It was the franchise’s first division title since 2018. Led by quarterback Dak Prescott and a balanced attack, the team led the NFL in total yards per game (407.0) and points scored (530).
Of course, Prescott missed the final 11 games in 2020 with a severe ankle injury. He bounced back this past year and was certainly effective.
While he did miss the team’s Sunday night win at Minnesota with a calf injury, he started the other 16 games. He hit on 68.8 percent of his throws for 4,449 yards. There were 37 aerial scores and 10 picks. Prescott was sacked 30 times and did lose six of his 14 fumbles.
But he and the team had a rough afternoon vs. the 49ers in the wild card round of the playoffs. He hit on just 23-of-43 passes for 254 yards, one score, and one interception. He was sacked five times and fumbled once.
And there was some questionable decision-making by the club in the closing second with the Cowboys down by six points.
In any case, there was a sense that the six-year quarterback still wasn’t quite himself in 2021. But Prescott (via Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram) appears to feel differently these days.
"(This is the) healthiest I’ve been in a long, long time. So, I’m just blessed just to start there and to be able to come in healthy and just to work on myself and just overall my whole game and not just particularly getting one element of my body healthy.Dak Prescott"
Prescott also appears very optimistic about his new-look team this year.
"We know what we have in this locker room and we know what we can be. Talent is one thing. But if you don’t fulfill it doesn’t really mean anything. I’m excited for those guys to be able to do that and for them to prove people wrong. I know what this team has."
The Dallas Cowboys are attempting to become the first team to repeat as NFC East champions since the Philadelphia Eagles turned the trick four straight years from 2001-04. And a healthier Prescott gives them a real fighting chance.