Blogging The Boys
ESPN asked its football writers to put together a list of “100 things to know for the 2026 NFL season” and each team gets a few predictions thrown its way. The Cowboys ended up with five predictions.
Two predictions are about Dak Prescott, and they are c0nnected.
1. MVP candidates – Dak Prescott
Prescott’s incredible 2025 campaign was overlooked due to his team’s lackluster defense, but I felt he was actually the second-most valuable player in the league last season (and ahead of Matthew Stafford). If he plays the same way, and the Cowboys’ defense can be even just mediocre, Prescott will be an MVP candidate. — Walder
2. Best Bets – Dak Prescott to be the next player to record 400-plus pass yards in a game (+1000)
The Cowboys play Washington at home in Week 2, and the path is very easy to visualize: volume, aggressiveness, game environment, receiver upside and a willingness to keep throwing. Prescott threw for over 4,500 yards last season, and Washington had the third-worst coverage grade and second-worst rate of touchdowns allowed. It’s not a bet on certainty, but could it realistically be Prescott? Yes. — Maldonado
ESPN isn’t alone in thinking Prescott is an MVP Candidate. Pete Prisco had a similar take earlier this week.
“I think Dak Prescott, again, I say it time and again every single season, he’s the most underappreciated, underrated player in the National Football League. And if they had any sort of defense, he would be that much better.”
“Every time he took the field last year, he knew he had to put up big numbers, in large part because the defense was awful. I think the defense is going to be better. New coordinator, new system, better players. I love what the Cowboys did in the offseason on the defensive side of the ball. And Dak Prescott’s going to roll up big numbers.”
“[…] I think Dak Prescott is going to have a monster year.”
And why shouldn’t that monster year include a 400-yard passing game as ESPN is predicting against the Commanders?
In 2025, Prescott threw for 4,552 yards (#3 in the NFL), completed 67.3 percent of his passing attempts (#12) and threw 30 touchdowns (#4) for a QBR of 70.2 (#5). If the Cowboys had managed a better W/L record, Prescott would already have been a strong candidate in 2025.
But they didn’t, which brings us to ESPN’s next point.
3. Most improved teams – Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys can score points. With QB Dak Prescott, WRs CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, and the run game balance, Dallas averaged 26.6 points per game last season. But the key for 2026 is the defensive upgrades.
New coordinator Christian Parker will bring elements of Vic Fangio’s system to Dallas. Edge rushers Rashan Gary and Malachi Lawrence, as well as safety Caleb Downs, boost the Cowboys’ impact play ability. This team should...
