Eight years ago, Dallas Cowboys rookie quarterback Dak Prescott took the league by storm and helped lead America’s Team to the top seed in the NFC. His first playoff game would end in heartbreak, in AT&T Stadium, at the hands of the visiting Green Bay Packers.
He was a rookie emerging from Tony Romo’s shadow, helped along by an elite supporting cast – a privilege that would haunt the noise around his name for years to come. Prescott’s running mate, Ezekiel Elliott, would lead the league in rushing, in part thanks to an offensive line with three Cowboys destined for Canton. He was throwing to iconic targets, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. It wasn’t enough.
Prescott was spectacular, but he was along for a ride that would end in the Divisional Round. In 2023, he posted his best year since his ill-fated rookie campaign. He’s the driving force behind the success of America’s Team. Once again, he’ll play host to the Packers.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
For all the criticism he has endured for his play, his embodiment of what it means to be the face of a franchise has been immaculate. Since being drafted in 2016, he has dealt with the attention – good and bad – remarkably well and presided over a locker room as it shifted from Romo’s team to his own.
Ahead of Sunday’s Wild Card contest, Prescott spoke about how the Cowboys became his team, and how that has changed as he approaches a decade with a star on his helmet.
“I’ve become the old man, the uncle,” Prescott said. “I think whether it’s becoming a father, whether it’s getting older and realizing that hell, there’s only three guys on this team that have been here before I have. We talk about different generations, I don;t know if I’m a part of this generation that is now, but they have a lot to offer that’s different, that’s fun.”
Between everything his teammates have publicly said and the results on the field, it’s safe to say that the generational gap has been mended. The Cowboys are 12-5 and own the NFC’s second seed and Prescott has put forward an MVP-caliber season.
He won’t bring home the hardware, but a regular season complete with 4,516 yards and 36 touchdowns has helped Dallas’ offense ascend to the league’s elite. The Cowboys are yet to lose at home this season, and winning the NFC East has secured at least one more game in front of the Dallas faithful. Nobody – except maybe the Detroit Lions – wants to take on that challenge.
Prescott acknowledged that fostering relationships has been integral to his team’s success.
“For me, it’s about really just being able to relate,” Prescott said. “And the older you get, I think the more you’ve got to listen to the locker room rather than try to create the locker room because you’re going to get outnumbered. For me, it’s really just about feeding off these guys, embracing these guys, and really learning.”
Dallas may be led by a 30-year-old quarterback, but its youngest stars will be tasked with showing up against a feisty Green Bay team, emboldened by its inexperience.
In his age-24 season, edge rusher Micah Parsons has logged 14 sacks, his third consecutive season of at least 13. Receiver CeeDee Lamb, also 24, has led the league in catches (135) on the way to 1,749 receiving yards. It might look different off the field, but the connection he and Prescott share on it is among the best in the sport. It’ll be called upon this weekend.
“Learning the way that they see things, the video gamers, the streamers, the social media, whatever it may be,” Prescott said. “Something I didn’t necessarily grow up in and going, but it helps me understand them to be able to pull their greatness out of them when it’s needed.”
