It’s Time for Dak Prescott to Receive His Flowers
The NFL MVP isn’t an honor that is won in the first seven weeks of a season. Things change so quickly week by week, and narratives can shift within the hour.
However, it’s hard to find a narrative that can undermine what Dak Prescott is doing in Big D. By all possible metrics, Prescott is performing at the highest level in the NFL. Fan and media voices alike have tried to say otherwise, but the facts don’t care about their feelings.
It’s time for Dak Prescott to receive his flowers (it’s been time, really).
Box Score Brilliance Without Big Names
Through the first seven games, Prescott has lit up the stat sheet. His 16 passing touchdowns are good for second in the league, only behind Matthew Stafford. He ranks second in passing yards, with his 1,881 only trailing Justin Herbert. He’s also added 56 yards of timely rushes and one rushing touchdown on top of all of it.
But Prescott isn’t just driving the Cowboys’ high-scoring offense. He is constantly keeping it on the field, only turning the ball over three times this season — all of which are interceptions.
His completion percentage is 71.4% — fourth in the NFL — and his 185 completions are the most in the league. So, despite throwing as much as anyone, leaving himself vulnerable to more trouble and less efficiency naturally, Prescott is right at the top of the league in terms of efficiency.
Those stats are astounding, but they become even more so when you see what Prescott has been working with lately. On top of star WR CeeDee Lamb being out for, essentially, five weeks, his offensive line has also been banged up.
Right before the massive Micah Parsons homecoming, Prescott was set to be without his WR1 and his rising left tackle against a seriously good Green Bay defense. His 319-yard, three-TD masterclass, however, would’ve suggested he was never shorthanded against a premier defense on primetime.
Against the Jets, he went to battle without 80% of his offensive line and no CeeDee, yet again. It didn’t matter — 237 yards and four touchdowns later, most people couldn’t deny what their eyes were seeing.
Even in the loss last Sunday afternoon, Prescott still had no Lamb, no Booker, and added no KaVontae Turpin. He went 25-for-34 for 261 yards, threw three touchdowns, and didn’t turn the ball over.
Without his big names, Dak Prescott has put up big numbers.
Just imagine what he’ll do when he gets those names back.
Dak Prescott Has Advanced Into The Elite
If the basic stuff paints a masterpiece, the advanced analytics paint a Prescott-faced Mona Lisa.
The NFL tracks several statistics called “Next Gen Stats”, and one of those stats is aggression%. Simply put, this tracks the % of throws a QB makes into tight coverage —Prescott’s mark of 19.2% puts him second on the list, only trailing the recently-benched Jake Browning.
That puts him ahead of notable aggressive QBs like Baker Mayfield and Stafford. Couple that with his completion percentage, and it tells a story — Prescott is making whatever throws he wants, and he’s completing them.
EPA stands for Expected Points Added, and it’s a fancy way to show who’s driving their offense the best. Many sites track it, and there are many different ways to categorize it, which makes it even more useful for evaluation.
In terms of overall EPA, Prescott is fourth, just behind the pleasant redemption story of Daniel Jones. If we focus on passing only, Dak Prescott’s 60.83 Pass EPA is the single best mark in the league. People for years have crucified Prescott for only being good in garbage time, but in 2025, no one has been better outside of it. His non-garbage time EPA sits at 77.12.
When looking at the base of Prescott’s work, one will find a gunslinging, precise, and deadly athlete under center. Taking a deeper dive only confirms those findings.
But, Their Record!
The only thing Dak Prescott naysayers have to cling to at this point is the fact that the Cowboys are 3-3-1. They’ve latched onto this and claimed that Prescott isn’t, and therefore cannot, play winning football. However, it might actually be quite the opposite.
The Cowboys, as a unit, have the second-best scoring offense in football. Their passing attack is second in the league.
Yet, Dallas is the only team in the top-eight of either category that doesn’t have a winning record.
That’s because the Dallas Cowboys’ defense is terrible. Historically terrible. It’s not particularly good at anything, and it’s horrible at a lot of things.
Dallas allows the most YPG in the league at 401.6. They’re third in PPG allowed at 32.3, third in rushing YPG allowed at 141.3, and first in passing YPG allowed at 260.3.
If someone ran 1,000 simulations with this current Cowboys defense, Dallas would be 0-7 in half of them, 2-5 in 400 of them, and 3-4 in 99 of them. Cowboys fans can call themselves lucky that they live in the one world where they’re 3-3-1.
Or, they can thank their all-world QB who’s lit the league ablaze.
Don’t let this historically bad defense distract from the fact that Dak Prescott is going scorched earth on the NFL, and he has put his hat in the ring for best QB on planet Earth.
NFL in Crisis: 49ers Coach Kyle Shanahan Slams League’s Greed in Explosive Speech!
In an incendiary post-game press conference that has rocked the NFL to its core, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan delivered a scathing critique of the league’s financial priorities, calling out the overwhelming influence of money on the game he’s devoted his life to. Following the 49ers’ hard-fought victory over the Los Angeles Rams, Shanahan didn’t hesitate to voice his concerns about the direction the NFL is headed, condemning the “profit-driven” mentality that is now dominating decision-making at the highest levels.
“The game is being corrupted by money, and it’s clear to see,” Shanahan began, his words heavy with frustration. “Football used to be about family, integrity, and the passion we bring to the field. Now? It’s all about TV deals, endorsements, and pushing players to the limits just to turn a profit. This is not what the sport was built on. This is not why I’m here.”
Shanahan’s comments were made in the aftermath of a critical win for the 49ers, but his frustration wasn’t with his team’s performance. Instead, the 49ers’ coach turned his ire toward the NFL’s increasingly commercialized landscape, where financial motives are now dictating nearly every facet of the game — from player contracts to franchise operations to fan engagement.
“We’ve gotten to a point where it’s not about making the best product on the field anymore,” Shanahan continued, his voice gaining intensity. “It’s about making the most money. We’re seeing franchises that are treating players like assets, moving them around based on profitability instead of development. Coaches are under pressure to win at any cost, not because it’s the right thing for the team, but because the money demands it. And that’s damaging the game.”
Shanahan’s remarks have sparked a nationwide discussion that’s reverberated throughout the NFL, especially given the 49ers’ position as one of the league’s premier franchises. His critique is particularly poignant given the NFL’s explosive growth in recent years, with billions of dollars in TV contracts and sponsorships flooding the sport. However, Shanahan’s words call attention to the toll this financial success is taking on the sport’s soul.
Many in the league have supported Shanahan’s stance, with some calling it a long-overdue critique of the NFL’s commercialized approach. “Kyle Shanahan has been in this league long enough to know that the business side of things is beginning to overshadow the spirit of the game,” said former NFL player and ESPN analyst Teddy Bruschi. “He’s not afraid to stand up and speak out about something that we all know is happening. It’s a breath of fresh air.”
Yet, the backlash has also been swift. Critics argue that Shanahan’s focus on the NFL’s financial issues could serve as a distraction for a 49ers team currently positioned for a deep playoff run. “Shanahan has one of the most talented teams in the league,” said one NFL insider. “He should be focusing on getting the best out of his players, not on complaining about the league’s financial structure. He’s got a job to do.”
But Shanahan, ever the competitor and strategist, remains unbowed. “I’ve been coaching this game long enough to know that it’s not about chasing the next dollar,” he said, his resolve clear. “This game has to mean something more than just how much money we can make off it. It’s about what you do on that field and how you represent the game, the fans, and the community.”
Shanahan’s comments have left the NFL community divided, but one thing is clear: the financial model of the NFL is under intense scrutiny. As the league continues to grow, the tension between profitability and the game’s integrity may only deepen. Whether Shanahan’s critique sparks a movement for change, or if it’s drowned out by the ever-growing financial pressures of the league, remains to be seen.
“We’ve gotten to a point where it’s not about making the best product on the field anymore. It’s about making the most money.” - Kyle Shanahan
As the NFL looks toward its future, Shanahan’s passionate words stand as a stark reminder that football, at its heart, was never meant to be just another business venture. It was meant to be about the game, the players, and the fans — a sentiment that may be more crucial than ever in the ever-evolving landscape of professional sports.
