Dak Prescott has over 1,100 yards, elite efficiency, and MVP-level statistics, yet the national media still downplays his value compared to others, such as Jalen Hurts.
Dak Prescott’s 2025 Start
Through four weeks of the 2025 season, Dak Prescott has been nothing short of outstanding.
He’s completed 121 of 166 passes for 1,119 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions.
His completion percentage of 72.9% ranks among the best in the NFL, and his 95.4 passer rating and 74.2 QBR prove he’s not just managing games — he’s excelling.
Prescott has already logged two 300-yard performances, including a 361-yard, two-touchdown win over the Giants and a 319-yard, three-touchdown showcase against Green Bay.
These aren’t hollow numbers; they’ve kept Dallas in games where the defense faltered and the margin for error was razor-thin.
Advanced Efficiency Proves His Case
Beyond traditional stats, advanced analytics put Prescott right in the thick of the MVP race.
According to CowboysWire / USA Today, his adjusted EPA per play ranks among the top quarterbacks in football. EPA doesn’t just measure yards; it evaluates impact per snap — third downs, red-zone possessions, and high-leverage situations.
Prescott has been consistently positive in those areas, raising the Cowboys’ scoring potential almost every time he takes a snap.
That efficiency separates him from quarterbacks who pile up empty yards in blowouts. Dak’s production is directly tied to winning football.
Media Narratives vs. Rankings
National outlets have slowly begun to acknowledge Prescott’s production, but the narrative still lags behind.
In the CBS Sports Week 5 QB Power Rankings, Prescott moved up after his overtime duel against Green Bay. Another CBS feature went further, calling him “money this season,” highlighting his indispensable value to Jerry Jones’ franchise.
Pro Football Focus also rates him as one of the league’s most efficient quarterbacks in both clean-pocket and pressured situations. Yet despite these validations, national debates continue to elevate others — quarterbacks with shakier production — while treating Prescott like a second-tier option.
The Hurts Comparison
Jalen Hurts’ season illustrates the double standard.
He has thrown for just 609 yards in four games, averaging only 152 yards per outing, with five touchdowns and no interceptions. His QBR sits at 67.5, nearly seven points below Prescott’s 74.2.
If another quarterback posted back-to-back games under 150 passing yards, there would be serious questions. Instead, Hurts is routinely praised as a “winner.”
Meanwhile, Prescott, who has nearly doubled Hurts’ passing yardage with a higher completion percentage and better efficiency metrics, is rarely treated with the same respect.
That contrast shows how reputation, not production, drives much of the media’s quarterback discourse.
The Bigger Picture for Dallas
What makes Prescott’s season even more impressive is the context around him.
Dallas has shuffled its offensive line, cycled through receivers, and dealt with a defense that hasn’t lived up to expectations. Prescott has been the stabilizing force, elevating the team when others have faltered.
Without him, the Cowboys could easily be sitting near the bottom of the standings. Instead, his accuracy and leadership have kept them competitive, even in games where the odds tilted against them.
That’s the very definition of value — lifting the roster and producing when the margin for error is slim.
Time for Recognition
The numbers, the analytics, and the context all point in the same direction: Dak Prescott is playing at an MVP level. Yet the national conversation still frames him as a quarterback with something to prove. The reality is that he has already proven it.
If he wore a different uniform, he’d be hailed as a frontrunner. Instead, he continues to fight through outdated narratives while outperforming his peers, who are often celebrated for less.
It’s time for the media to shift its lens and recognize Prescott for what he is in 2025 — one of the NFL’s very best quarterbacks and a legitimate MVP candidate.
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