Dak Prescott has to win 3 games with his arm

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

How well Dak Prescott plays this year will determine whether the Dallas Cowboys are eligible for the Super Bowl.

With NFC down to an extent, what better time for Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys to take advantage of the current situation?

Although Dallas hasn’t exactly had a great offseason, the Cowboys should be the favorite to come out of the NFC East this year. While the Philadelphia Eagles will be a real threat, as will the Washington Commanders with Carson Wentz at center, Dallas has the lineup to win not just the division but several playoff games. It must be the performance or failure of the NFC championship game.

If the Cowboys want to be in the best spot for a deep playoff run, Prescott needs to make it big in those three notable regular-season games.

Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott needs to win 3 games with his arm

3. Week 6: at the Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, October 16)

While it remains to be seen what the Washington Commanders will be like this season, the Cowboys must maintain their dominance over the Philadelphia Eagles in division play. While a series breakup with The Birds wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, this year is all about the Cowboys changing the narrative. So they need to go out there and beat the Eagles in place early.

It’s going to be a primetime affair in Week 6, alright, with potential preseason braggart rights at stake. If Philadelphia hits home, it will give the Eagles confidence as they head to their Christmas Eve road date in Dallas for a possible takeover of divisional racing. Because of this, the Cowboys need to pull themselves together and have a fantastic first half to start the season on a good note.

Prescott may be something of the prototype for Jalen Hurts under the Philadelphia middle, but he’s the one who has already made the big bucks as a proven starter. The last thing Dallas will want is the latest version of their quarterback, comparable to dueling him in a standalone primetime game. If Prescott can go into a hostile street environment and win, it bodes well for the playoffs.

It may be a preseason game, but a win in Philadelphia will set the tone for NFC East.