Ralph Vacchiano NFL Reporter EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Meadowlands had all however emptied out by the point the Dallas Cowboys had been completed with the New York Jets on Sunday, however a loud group waited round to ship a message to their hero. And as Dak Prescott left the sector and headed towards the locker room, he smiled when he heard what they had been chanting:”M-V-P!””I imply, my ears work, so I heard it,” the Cowboys quarterback mentioned. “However I didn’t hear it. It’s Week 5.”It could solely be 5 weeks into the NFL season, but it surely’s OK for him to pay attention, a minimum of for a second. As a result of these followers are proper. Almost one third of the way in which by means of the season, Prescott is the MVP of the league. Dak Prescott heads off the sector Sunday after one other stellar efficiency to begin the 2025 season. (Picture by Sarah Stier/Getty Pictures) It’s not simply the numbers that make a case for the 32-year-old veteran, though these have been spectacular thus far. He’s accomplished 71.3% of his passes, he’s second within the league with 1,356 yards, third with 10 landing passes, and has thrown solely three interceptions thus far.Nevertheless it’s additionally about what he did on Sunday in a 37-22 win over the winless Jets — and the way he did it, which has actually been a microcosm of his season thus far. The Cowboys weren’t simply lacking their No. 1 receiver, CeeDee Lamb, for the second straight week. They had been compelled by accidents to piece collectively an offensive line that was lacking 4 starters. And so they had been additionally with out backup working again Miles Sanders, reserve receiver KaVontae Turpin, depleting their weapons even additional. And don’t overlook, the Cowboys entered the sport with the statistically worst protection within the league.In different phrases, Prescott doesn’t precisely have a stable help system. If he can’t carry the Cowboys, no person will. And whereas no person across the NFL has been enjoying higher than Prescott this season, his early MVP case comes right down to one thing much more important:No person within the NFL has been doing extra with much less.”Think about getting in with 4 model new offensive lineman, receivers which are nonetheless studying and rising,” mentioned Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer. “Look, I feel we’re spoiled. I feel he is top-of-the-line gamers within the league. He is actually top-of-the-line teammates and leaders I’ve ever been round. The blokes imagine in him.”With these 4 new linemen in entrance of him, and shorthanded at receiver, that is what Prescott did in opposition to the Jets: 18-of-29 for 237 yards and 4 landing passes, good for a passer ranking of 127.4. Within the two video games now with out Lamb, top-of-the-line receivers in soccer, Prescott has thrown for 556 yards and 7 touchdowns with out an interception. And the Cowboys have scored an astonishing 77 factors.It helps that the Cowboys are getting spectacular performances from two newcomers — working again Javonte Williams (447 dashing yards and 5 touchdowns) and receiver George Pickens (23 catches, 357 yards, 5 touchdowns) — however Prescott is the one fueling this rise. And it’s not simply by his play on the sector both. He’s the glue holding what’s left of the workforce collectively behind the scenes, too.Like final week throughout observe, when he knew the Cowboys can be with out left sort out Tyler Guyton, middle Cooper Beebe and guards Tyler Booker and Tyler Smith. Prescott didn’t simply go away the replacements alone to determine the best way to shield him. He supplied them assist, his steerage, and a pep discuss that apparently labored.”I had a dialog with the younger linemen earlier within the week about how I turned a starter,” Prescott mentioned. “If there’s ever a man who’s going to imagine in any person having to step as much as the plate when their quantity is known as and folks do not suppose they’re prepared, it may be me. So, to me, it is nearly encouraging these guys and motivating these guys to grasp that you just’re meant to be right here. You are right here for a function. You are right here for a purpose.”And the makeshift line proved it. The Jets’ protection might not be what it was once, however Prescott was nonetheless solely sacked as soon as and hit simply thrice, whereas the Cowboys discovered sufficient holes to run for 180 yards.These are the little issues that Prescott does. It’s the large issues, although, that make the true MVP case. Issues like throwing three landing passes in opposition to a blitzing protection on Sunday. Or throwing a 43-yard bomb of a landing move to Pickens, when the complete stadium is aware of he’s the one harmful receiver Prescott has.Or how about turning Ryan Flournoy, a sixth-round choose from 2024 out of Southeast Missouri State, into an surprising star? He got here into the sport on Sunday with 14 profession catches. In opposition to the Jets, he led the Cowboys with six catches for 114 yards.That’s what nice quarterbacks do. They make one of the best of what they’ve received.”That is one of many nice issues about having a veteran quarterback,” Schottenheimer mentioned. “There’s nothing that he cannot deal with.”That features dealing with the early MVP hype, even whereas the Cowboys (2-2-1) are struggling to seek out their very own footing. Dallas might want to go on a run towards the playoffs to maintain Prescott in a race that can certainly embody Payments quarterback Josh Allen, the reigning MVP, and possibly different QBs just like the Rams’ Matthew Stafford, Tampa’s Baker Mayfield or Detroit’s Jared Goff. And it’s not clear how succesful the Cowboys are of a run like that but.It is that potential run that issues to Prescott, although. The “MVP” chants are good, and well-deserved, however to him they’re nothing greater than that.”I don’t care,” Prescott mentioned. “I don’t care if it was Week 17. What I need [is] to win, the workforce targets. Proper now, the success and continued success that’s going to occur is only a beneficiary of all the fellows in that locker room.”Perhaps. However on this case the followers know higher. They know an MVP candidate once they see one.”Generally,” Prescott mentioned, “it’s simply completely satisfied and excited followers.”Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He spent six years protecting the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and earlier than that, 16 years protecting the Giants and the NFL for the New York Every day Information. Observe him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, observe leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized publication each day.
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