If the Dallas Cowboys are going to turn things around in 2025 and contend in the NFC East, it's going to take a big comeback from Dak Prescott.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders took huge steps forward in 2024 while it was a disappointing campaign for Dallas. Losing Prescott for a while to injury certainly played a big role in this fact.
Now, Prescott is coming back and Pro Football Focus' Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman called him Dallas' biggest "X-factor."
"Biggest weakness in 2024: Run defense," Chadwick and Wasserman said. "Dallas’ performance in run defense was among the NFL’s worst. Only Carolina posted a lower PFF run-defense grade. Linebacker Eric Kendricks and safety Malik Hooker were the Cowboys’ only qualified players to earn at least a 70.0 PFF run-defense grade. New defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus needs to make the team's run defense a priority if this team is going to compete with the likes of Philadelphia and Washington.
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"X-factor for 2025: QB Dak Prescott. Prescott is a prime bounce-back candidate after earning a career-low 67.2 PFF passing grade in his eight games last season. That came on the heels of his career-high 86.9 PFF passing grade in 2023. If Prescott plays closer to his 2023 form with wide receiver George Pickens in the fold, Dallas has plenty of talent to secure a postseason berth."
It should be a big year in Dallas after a solid offseason. But, Prescott's return is going to be the biggest factor that determines whether or not the team can get back on track. He signed a four-year, $240 million deal for a reason. Prescott is one of the best quarterbacks in the game. Dallas needs him to return to form.
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