The Dallas Cowboys took on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the final matchup of the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs, and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott stole the show with an unreal performance to propel his team to a decisive victory.
Prescott ultimately finished with 305 passing yards and four passing touchdowns with a number of highlights included in his excellent performance.
After four straight three-and-outs, we have points in Tampa. pic.twitter.com/mkWjaKOGUs
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 17, 2023
Dak Prescott and the Cowboys take an 18-0 lead (it would be 21-0 if not for 3 missed extra points)! 🏈 pic.twitter.com/IQcoUUoeBj
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 17, 2023
Too easy for the Cowboys on 4th-and-4.
31-6 Dallas! pic.twitter.com/DIBZsQh8ez
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 17, 2023
One big issue for Dak Prescott thus far this season has been turnovers. In just 12 starts in the regular season, Prescott had 15 interceptions.
It was an extremely different story on Monday night for Prescott, not turning over the ball at all against a tough Buccaneers defense. The NFL world has taken notice of this improvement and praised him for a near-flawless game.
“Dak Prescott has over 300 hundred passing yards and 4 touchdowns through the air. In the game that everybody said he had to deliver in. Give the man his props. He has more than earned them,” tweeted RJ Ochoa of SB Nation’s Blogging the Boys.
Dak Prescott has over 300 passing yards and 4 touchdowns through the air.
In the game that everybody said he had to deliver in.
Give the man his props. He has more than earned them.
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) January 17, 2023
Thank you, Dak Prescott, for playing the game of your life,” tweeted Fox Sports personality Skip Bayless.
Thank you, Dak Prescott, for playing the game of your life at GOAT.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) January 17, 2023
Legendary Cowboys quarterback and current ESPN broadcaster Troy Aikman offered some extremely high praise for Prescott following the game, crediting his leadership as a huge factor in the Cowboys’ victory.
“Just a huge win for Dak. I’ve been a fan of his since he came into the league. In an era where a lot of people want to be a brand, and they worry about number and all of those things, Dak is an old school quarterback that only cares about winning football games.”
"Just a huge win for Dak. I've been a fan of his since he came into the league. In an era where a lot of people want to be a brand, and they worry about numbers and all of those things, Dak is an old school quarterback that only cares about winning football games." -Troy Aikman pic.twitter.com/Muxb1z5c1R
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 17, 2023
This win was huge for both Prescott and the Cowboys, as it was their first road playoff win in nearly 30 years to the date, with their last coming in January of 1993 against the San Francisco 40ers.
One day shy of a 30 years later, the #Cowboys win a road playoff game
17 Jan 1993 – Win at SF
16 Jan 2023 – Win to earn trip to SF— Phil Murphy © (@Phil_Sports) January 17, 2023
It was a performance worth celebrating for both Dak Prescott and the Cowboys, but they will quickly need to prepare for a far tougher test against the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional round of the playoffs next weekend.