The Cowboys entered the 2023 NFL season with major questions about exactly how their offense would look. The team was bringing back most of its key players on that side of the ball tight end Dalton Schultz was the lone exception so ordinarily many would have expected them to progre s.However, the Cowboys had parted ways with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore during the offseason with Mike McCarthy wanting to change up the type of offensive system the team was running. Many wondered whether the lo s of Moore, who is considered an up-and-comer in the coaching ranks, would prove devastating to Dallas.At first, it looked like it might be. Dak Prescott and Co. struggled out of the gate under the tutelage of McCarthy and new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. They were still winning, but it was more thanks to the team's stellar defense than the effort of a seemingly clunky offense.But in the sixth week of the season, things finally started to click. Prescott and CeeDee Lamb started to sync up more often as the quarterback gained a grasp of the offense and became more comfortable getting the ball where it needed to go.Since then, Dallas' offense has taken off. And now it appears that the Cowboys are going to be a tough team to beat during the 2023 postseason.MORE:Meanwhile, Prescott appears poised to make a run at MVP if
Gerhard De Beer Jersey he can continue playing at a high level. But how did he get to this point? Here's what to know about his season so far as he prepares for a Thanksgiving Day clash with the Commanders (4:30 p.m. ET, CBS).Prescott's stats first five gamesPrescott endured his share of i sues as a pa ser during Dallas' first five games. While he was able to complete a high percentage
Jimmy Graham Jersey of his pa ses, he simply wasn't generating as many points as fans were accustomed to seeing.The reason for that? The Cowboys endured some serious red-zone struggles early in the season. That played a big part in their ma sive upset lo s to the Cardinals and their blowout defeat against the 49ers.So, because of that, Prescott's numbers as a whole were skimpy, as he was on a pace for just 17 touchdowns and 14 interceptions through five games.Below is a look at his stat line from those contests.StatTotalComp. %69.4Pa sing yards1,061Pa s TDs5INTs4Yards/attempt6.6Pa ser rating87.5Granted, the Cowboys built a big lead thanks to strong defensive performances in a couple of thosegames. That's part of the reason that Prescott didn't have to throw all too much during those contests.Still, fans were left wondering whether Prescott would flip a switch and prove to be more effective or if his high-end potential would be limited by the Schottenheimer offense.MORE:Dak Prescott stats next five gamesPrescott's first signs of a breakout came in the team's Week 6 game against the Chargers. He posted a season-high 272 pa sing yards and showcased a better connection with CeeDee Lamb as he moved the ball downfield consistently. Prescott also logged just his second multi-touchdown game of the year, throwing for one and running one in.After Dallas' Week 7 bye, Prescotttook off. He averaged four touchdowns per game over the team's next three games and turned Lamb into one of the best downfield weapons in the NFL.It's easy to understand why that happened. As Prescott explained after his five-touchdown outing against the Giants, his comfort level with his new offense has reached an all-time high."I've never been as confident, as free, as connected with other guys in the offense, play-calling and this whole system than I am now," Prescott said, per . "That's credit to those guys, McCarthy, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer , quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien and the rest of the offensive staff. It feels good, honestly. We're going to continue to build.""It's all coming together and it goes back to the preparation way back in the spring," he added. "We've continued to talk, communicate. Something that's been huge is the play-caller's purpose. I understand what McCarthy is trying to get after on each and every play. I know I have the freedom to
Aaron Rodgers Jersey get us out of something else or this if it's that look. It's been really fun."Below is a look at how Prescott fared from Weeks 6 through 11 amid his growing confidence.StatTotalComp. %70.8Pa sing yards1,543Pa s TDs14INTs2Yards/attempt8.7Pa ser rating118.7Prescott was unleashed not onlythrough the air, but also on the ground, to an extent. He ran for 96
Amari Rodgers Jersey yards and two touchdowns during that span after logging just 45 yards and no scores in the first five games.Prescott's stats, comparedWhen comparing Prescott's first five games to his second five games, it's amazing to see the progre s that he has made. He has been better in every category during his most recent outings and he has particularly focused on getting the ball downfield.That's part of why Prescott is averaging a whopping 2.1 more yards per attempt since Week 6.Below is a look at his stats side by side from those two five-game stretches:StatFirst five gamesNext five gamesComp. %69.470.8Pa sing yards1,0611,543Pa s TDs514INTs42Yards/attempt6.68.7Pa ser rating87.5118.7And below is a look at his overall stats from the season and where they rank league-wide.StatTotalRankComp. %70.12ndPa sing yards2,6049thPa s TDs19T-3rdINTs6T-14thYards/attempt7.75thPa ser rating104.04thQBR73.92ndPFF grade89.41stPrescott's improvement from his bye week onward has certainly been impre sive. He should only continue to solidify his MVP case as he grows into Dallas' new-look offense.POWER
Jordan Love Jersey RANKINGS: Prescott currently has odds of+1400to be named NFL MVP, per Caesars Sportsbook. Those are good for the third-shortest among MVP candidates leaguewide and have shortened considerably since his slow start.Prescott's odds give him an implied probabilityof 6.7 percent to win the award. That percentage seems likely to climb considering that the Cowboys are facing some vulnerable secondaries including those of the Commanders, Eagles, Dolphins and Lions during their stretch run.Regardle s of whether Prescott wins the award, he appears poised to log his best finish in the NFL MVP race; his previous high-water mark came when he finished sixth overall during his rookie season in 2016.Below is a look at the odds to win NFL MVP entering Week 12 of the 2023 season, per Caesars Sportsbook. Only those with odds better than 100-1 are listed.PlayerTeamOddsJalen HurtsEagles+260Patrick MahomesChiefs+360Lamar JacksonRavens+360Tua TagovailoaDolphins+525Brock Purdy49ers+1000Dak PrescottCowboys+1400C.J. StroudTexans+1800Christian McCaffrey49ers+2000Tyreek HillDolphins+3000Josh AllenBills+3500Jared GoffLions+4000Trevor LawrenceJaguars+5000Considering these odds, Prescott doesn't seem like a bad bet to win MVP. He provides some value with his 14-1 odds and he could easily see those shorten into the 5-1 range if he can thrash a haple s Commanders defense on Thanksgiving.So, if you're looking to take an MVP flier on anyone, backing Prescott may be the way to go.