NFL playoffs entrance survey: Cowboys’ hopes begin and end with Dak Prescott and his INTs

Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys are preparing for the NFL Playoffs after finishing the 2022 season with a solid 12-5 record. This is the second consecutive year that Prescott has helped lead the Cowboys into the postseason and his fourth overall appearance. They will be hoping for much better results this time around, as early exits have become a bit of a trend.

Prescott has recorded a 1-3 career playoff record, including being one-and-done in two of his first three appearances. Last year was particularly disappointing. After winning the NFC East division and being considered a Super Bowl favorite by many around the NFL, they lost their first playoff game. They were defeated at home by the San Francisco 49ers.

The Cowboys will enter the NFL playoffs this year with much different expectations. They are a Wild Card team this time around, losing the division title to the Philadelphia Eagles despite an impressive record. Dak Prescott's direct expectations have also changed this year. He was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL for most of the 2021 season, but has regressed a bit in 2022.

Dak Prescott has particularly struggled with ball security this season. He set a new career high by throwing 15 interceptions, including at least one in each of the last seven consecutive games of the regular season. Despite missing five games this year due to a thumb injury, he still leads the entire NFL in interceptions. This is a major issue that he needs to solve immediately.

If Dak Prescott continues to throw interceptions in the playoffs, the Cowboys' postseason run will likely end short once again. The Cowboys have featured one of the top defenses and rushing attacks in the NFL this season. Protecting the ball is absolutely crucial to their success. Giving away free possessions could potentially be their downfall.

This is especially true in the Wild Card round against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Cowboys have been the much better team this year, as the Buccaneers have a 8-9 record. Dak Prescott's interception could potentially give Tom Brady the extra possessions he'll need to pull off an upset against the Cowboys.

While their records and overall statistics this season suggest the Cowboys should dominate the Buccaneers, Dak Prescott's interceptions could be an equalizer, along with Tom Brady's legendary postseason aura. These factors make the game much more of a coin flip than it probably should be.

NFL playoffs picks: Why the Cowboys are a good bet

Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott

As long as Dak Prescott can avoid interceptions, the Cowboys, in theory, should have no problem with the Buccaneers. They have been the better team this year by almost every measure. This includes their record, total offense, scoring offense, scoring defense, sacks, and turnover differential, among others.

The Cowboys have been one of the best teams at pressuring opposing quarterbacks this year, including ranking third in total sacks, led by Micah Parsons. This has traditionally been the way to disrupt Tom Brady. If they can get after him, as they have done all year, it will likely benefit them greatly.

One of the strengths of the Cowboys has been their rushing game, with Ezekiel Elliot and Tony Pollard averaging more than 135 yards per game, ranking in the top 10. The Buccaneers allow more than 120 rushing yards per game, as it's been one of their relative weaknesses. This is another matchup that the Cowboys could potentially exploit.

Why Dak Prescott and the Cowboys are a nasty bet

Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott

Tom Brady should give the Cowboys plenty to worry about, especially considering his direct history against them. He is a perfect 7-0 in his career against the Cowboys, including a victory in Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season. He also has the best playoff career of any player in NFL history by an extremely wide margin. His experience should give him a significant edge over Dak Prescott's measly 1-3 career postseason record.

Another significant advantage that the Buccaneers have is that they will be the home team in the game. The Cowboys have struggled on the road this season, compared to a stellar record when playing at home. They have posted a 4-4 road record this season, while winning eight of their nine home games. Prescott faces a monumental challenge, going on the road to face off against the GOAT head-to-head.