ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — As Dak Prescott took the podium following the Dallas Cowboys’ 33-13 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, a clattering of fans chanted through the glass from one of AT&T Stadium’s club areas, “MVP! MVP! MVP!”
Prescott completed 24 of 39 passes for 217 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. He gained 11 yards on three runs.
Nonetheless, Prescott did not believe his performance was up to par.
“Solid enough to get the win,” the quarterback said. “As I’ve previously stated, I am my harshest critic. Obviously, not my best performance. I did enough to win, but I’m always looking for ways to improve.”
Jerry Jones, the Cowboys’ owner and general manager, was a little more forgiving.
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“Dak Prescott, for anyone that might have a question about it, for him to come in here and play like that against Philadelphia, he should have his due,” Jones was quoted as saying. “That ought to shut that door of questioning his ability to play in a playoff-type game.”
Those questions will be raised until Prescott wins a big playoff game. He is 2-4 in the postseason, and the Cowboys have yet to advance past the divisional round.
However, Prescott is having his best season yet, with 23 touchdown passes and only two interceptions in his last eight games. He has thrown at least two touchdown passes in each of the last seven games, tying Tony Romo’s team single-season record.
According to ESPN BET, Prescott’s odds of winning the Most Valuable Player award have risen from 60-to-1 (12th best) to a league-best +175 in the last six weeks.
“First of all, as far as what it represents, which would be his importance to the team, he doesn’t have to win that award for me to know how important he is to our aspirations this year, where we are and where we’ve got a chance to go,” Jones was quoted as saying. “He’s got that kind of appreciation from I think everybody in this organization.”
Prescott leads the NFL in touchdown passes with 28.
He has only six interceptions in 13 games after tying for the NFL lead with 15 last year despite playing in only 12 games. Prescott, on the other hand, couldn’t shake a sack-fumble that led to the Eagles’ only touchdown of the game on Sunday.
“It’s a feeling that sucks,” he admitted.
But he bounced back to lead the Cowboys to three field goal drives following the turnover, completing nine of 12 passes for 109 yards.
“I hold myself to super-high standards,” Prescott explained, “and, yeah, if I play my best game, we’re putting up 50 out there.” That will not change, and I will keep fighting for it. That’s the effort I put into this, the preparation I do.”
The Cowboys lead the NFC East with a tiebreaker advantage over the Eagles, but if both teams win out, Philadelphia will claim the division title and at least one home playoff game. With victories over the Cowboys and Eagles, the San Francisco 49ers (10-3) currently hold the top spot in the NFC.
The Cowboys play three of their final four games on the road, including games against Buffalo next week and Miami on Christmas Eve. If Prescott can keep leading the Cowboys to victories, he could become the franchise’s second MVP winner. Emmitt Smith, a Hall of Fame running back, won the award in 1993 while leading the Cowboys to their second consecutive Super Bowl victory.
Prescott’s goal is not to win the MVP award. It’s a Super Bowl victory. He stated that he thinks about it every day. Jones feels the same way.
“Dak is a player who is qualified in every way to have a Super Bowl in his career,” Jones went on to say.
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