Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images
The Dallas QB is “the one writing” and he wrote a lot Thursday night
There is a common joke format that is still flourishes on Twitter/X.
“[So and so] read the tweets.”
Usually it comes when an athlete, after performing poorly earlier in a game — and getting trashed for it online — comes through in a clutch. That’s when a stream of tweets hit the timeline declaring that somehow, some way, that player saw what was being said, and decided to do something about it.
In that spirit, Dak Prescott read SB Nation.
Because earlier in the week our dear friend James Dator dove into the MVP argument, outlining how the race remains wide-open, mostly because nobody has truly separated themselves in that argument. Jalen Hurts is the favorite, because the Philadelphia Eagles are 10-1 at the moment, he is on track for 45 all-purpose touchdowns, and he has delivered in some clutch moments this season.
However, Hurts is also on pace to finish with 15 interceptions. And a good portion of his success on the ground comes via the Tush Push (or Brotherly Shove, if you are so inclined) and formations are ineligible for MVP.
Also on James’ list? Prescott. However, as James put it, there was a glaring hole in the QB’s resume. While acknowledging that the Dallas Cowboys passer has been playing quarterback at an extremely high level — which continued in the Cowboys’ 41-35 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football — something was missing:
This is a quarterback who is great when everything is going his way, but he’s still unable to put a team on his back and turn things around. In 2023 he has ZERO fourth quarter comebacks and only one game-winning drive. How can anyone be the “Most Valuable Player” when they aren’t of value when the game matters the most?
Impressive stats all day, but that means nothing unless it gets turned into tough wins — and the Cowboys have had a Charmin-soft schedule without any quality victories on it.
Well, consider that box checked.
Dallas trailed Seattle 35-27 in the fourth quarter Thursday night, giving Prescott his chance to deliver a fourth-quarter comeback. He and the Cowboys offense were able to deliver that resume-building moment, after the Dallas defense stopped Seattle on downs. The Cowboys took over near midfield trailing 35-30 with just seven minutes left, and Prescott drove Dallas into the red zone.
Where he connected with tight end Jake Ferguson on the go-ahead score:
The play is a switch design, called “Steel” in some offensive systems, with CeeDee Lamb running a slant route from the outside and tight end Jake Ferguson running a wheel route. That gets the tight end matched up on talented safety Jamal Adams. The safety is in good position, but Prescott puts this throw to the inside, trusting that Ferguson will get to the catch point.
The tight end rewards that trust with the go-ahead touchdown.
That score gave Dallas a 36-35 lead, and they sent for the two-point conversion in hopes of a three-point lead.
Mission accomplished:
Pay note to Prescott’s eyes on this play. His first look is Michael Gallup, the single receiver on the left, who runs a pivot route right at the goal line. Cornerback Riq Woolen is all over that route, so Prescott moves his eyes to Brandin Cooks, who is running a crosser working from right-to-left. He has snuck behind the defense, and Prescott layers in a throw for a critical two points.
However, those were just two of the many impressive plays Prescott made on Thursday night. Earlier in the game he connected with Lamb on one of his favorite throws — a seam route — thanks in part to how he manipulated the coverage. Watch how Prescott opens to the left here, moving the post-safety a few steps to his right, before coming back to put this throw right on Lamb’s frame:
Prescott only gets Quandre Diggs to move a few steps, but that is enough. Diggs breaks on the throw to Lamb, but is a few steps away from making a play on the football. This is the kind of manipulation from a quarterback that truly matters.
Dallas capped off this game-opening drive with a field goal after getting stopped on a third and goal play. But the reason they got to first and goal to begin with was this third-down conversion, where Prescott checked the “footwork” and “pocket presence” boxes:
This is a five-receiver, vertical concept with the two boundary receivers running vertical routes, and the three inside receivers checking up right at the first-down marker. Prescott works through all five options in the pocket, moving fluidly around the pressure and keeping himself ready to throw the moment he has an option.
The moment KaVontae Turpin breaks open, the ball is on its way. Teaching tape from the quarterback, and drill work come to life in a game situation.
Perhaps his best throw came late in the first half, on another third-down situation. Facing 3rd and 7, Dallas dials up a Flat-7 Smash concept to the left, with Lamb releasing to the flat after coming in motion, and Jalen Tolbert running the deep corner route.
Lamb comes in motion across the formation presnap, and with no defender trailing him, Prescott has evidence before the play that the Seahawks are in zone coverage. However, he will need to confirm that after the snap. As the play begins, Seattle finally shows their hand, buzzing a safety down in a Cover 3 Buzz zone scheme. Both Tolbert and Lamb are covered well, so Prescott needs to go to Plan B.
That’s when he flips his eyes and his feet, getting to Cooks on the backside dig route. And he fits the throw in perfectly, around the safety buzzing downhill:
Another first and goal for Dallas. They would settle for another field goal — after a Prescott scramble for a touchdown was nullified due to a penalty — but the above completion to Cooks is another example of textbook quarterback play.
Prescott finished the game having completed 29 of 41 passes for 299 yards and 3 touchdowns. He has not thrown an interception since Week 10 against the New York Giants, and has just six on the season.
After the game, the quarterback was asked about his recent performance, and the criticism that has come his way.
“I understand nobody’s opinion defines me, that’s the great part about life and that’s the great opportunity that we all have, that people can say whatever they want, but you know I have the pen, I have the paper and I’m the one writing,” said the Dallas quarterback. “So, because I’m playing as well as I am now doesn’t mean I’m going to stop, doesn’t mean I’m going to listen to them now.”
He read the tweets.
And maybe, just maybe, SB Nation.
