NFL Research: Dak Prescott leads NFL in most passing categories

There is a constant debate in NFL circles amongst both analysts and fans about ranking the quarterbacks in the league.

Several factors go into these rankings. Win-loss records, playoff wins, Super Bowl appearances, and many other factors that affect overall performance.

Even stats can be misleading, but stats are truly the best measure of a quarterback’s success.

An account named NFL Research on Twitter/X has compiled a leaderboard of stats, and it may come as a surprise to most that Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott leads the league in more categories than any other quarterback.

In a season in which players like Matthew Stafford, Drake Maye, and Josh Allen are at the forefront of the NFL MVP race, Prescott is quietly having one of the best seasons of his career.

Despite the hate that comes with being quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, Prescott remains a dark horse for MVP, and it is likely contingent on the success of the team overall.

Just another one of those outside factors that skews the view of the quarterback’s play.

Stat Leader

NFL Research took 16 of the top quarterback stats, and listed the leaders for each category on Twitter/X. Here are the results, and Dak Prescott will be in BOLD.

Completions: Dak Prescott (334)

Attempts: Dak Prescott (484)

Completion %: Drake Maye (71.5)

Passing Yards: Dak Prescott (3,637)

Yards per Attempt: Sam Darnold (8.9)

Pass TD: Matthew Stafford (35)

Interceptions: Geno Smith/Tua Tagovailoa (14)

Passer Rating: Matthew Stafford (113.1)

Times Sacked: Geno Smith/Cam Ward (49)

10+ Yard Completions: Dak Prescott (147)

20+ Yard Completions: Matthew Stafford (50)

25+ Yard Completions: Jared Goff (33)

300-Yard Games: Dak Prescott (5)

Game-Winning Drives: Bo Nix (6)

Rush Yards: Josh Allen (487)

Rush TD: Josh Allen (12)

Prescott leads the NFL in five of the 16 listed categories, and the next in line is Matthew Stafford with only three on the list.

The Cowboys may only have six wins in 13 tries this season, but don’t blame Prescott and the offense.

This list shows that Prescott is carrying this team to the record they have, and his ability to do so hinges on a couple of factors.

Eyes on the Sideline

One of the reasons Prescott has found so much success through the air this season is because of tweaks to the offense by HC Brian Schottenheimer and first-year OC Klayton Adams.

The two coaches have thrown out everything from Mike McCarthy’s offense that was holding the Cowboys back from being more successful, and it shows.

Schottenheimer and Adams have employed much more pre-snap motion to confuse defenses and give Prescott a chance to make pre-snap reads.

They have also revitalized the rushing attack behind Javonte Williams and new OL Coach Conor Riley.

This opened up the play-action pass, a wrinkle of the offense that Prescott has historically excelled at.

A new weapon on offense sure didn’t hurt either.

Welcome Home, Georgie

Sending a third-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for WR George Pickens might be the greatest trade that Jerry Jones has ever completed.

Pickens has brought an element to the offense that had been sorely lacking: a legitimate WR1 threat opposite of All-World WR CeeDee Lamb.

Defenses had been bracketing and double-teaming Lamb since the departure of Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns.

Lamb still managed to put up All-Pro type seasons despite this, but it is evident now how much a playmaker on the opposite side of the field can elevate his game even more.

Moreover, Lamb and Pickens on the outside have been a blessing for Prescott and the offense, and could be the main catalyst for topping the quarterback leaderboard through 15 weeks.