Dak Prescott, who is the highest-paid player in NFL history, is the only NFC East QB without a conference championship appearance

The arrival of Russell Wilson in the NFC East division has left Dak Prescott in a category of his own as the Cowboys' quarterback is the only one without a conference championship appearance.

Dak Prescott, who is the highest-paid player in NFL history, is the only NFC East QB without a conference championship appearance

Dak Prescott (Image via IMAGO)

Two years ago, the NFC East was still being referred to as the NFC Least due to the division’s lack of competition. Things have taken a drastic turn as two teams from this division, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders, went head-to-head in the NFC Championship game.

It was only the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys who failed to make the playoffs. Both teams had a valid reason for missing out. Giants fired their franchise quarterback midway through the season, and the Cowboys lost Dak Prescott to a hamstring injury. Up until January, Jalen Hurts was the only quarterback in the division who had made it to an NFC East Championship.

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However, now things look different after the New York Giants signed Russell Wilson to a one-year deal worth $21 million. The Commanders, Giants, and Eagles all have quarterbacks who have at least one conference championship appearance. The same cannot be said in the case of the Dallas Cowboys, as the farthest Dak Prescott has led them is up to the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

In nine seasons, Prescott has a 2-5 record in the postseason. Despite being the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, he does not have the playoff stats to match his pay scale. With estimated career earnings of $248 million so far and more to come shortly, Prescott is going to make bank irrespective of the result- whether he makes it to the Super Bowl or not. However, the expectation for him every year continues to be the same: Championship or bust.

The chronicles of Jayden Daniels make Dak Prescott look worse because, in his rookie season, he led the Washington Commanders to a conference championship. Despite losing to the new Super Bowl champions, Daniels accomplished in one year a feat the Cowboys under Prescott have struggled to achieve over a decade.

Dak Prescott will be under the most pressure to perform next season

One thing is certain, when Prescott returns next year, he has to perform and lead the Cowboys to a conference championship. No justification will prove to be valid enough for his falling short. Compared to the previous year’s free agency, Dallas has been actively making moves, mostly on the defensive end, but their offense has gotten two new running backs and two wide receivers. Prescott will return to a team led by a fresh face at head coach, Brian Schottenheimer.

Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott (Image via IMAGO)

The son of great HC Marty Schottenheimer, Brian’s debut as a head coach in the NFL comes with a team that is a shadow of its former self and is struggling to get back to its glorious days. Prescott has four years to prove he is the answer to the prayers of all Cowboys fans. He has a reliable receiver in CeeDee Lamb, and their defense is still one of the most skilled in the league, despite losing DeMarcus Lawrence.

However, competing in that division is no longer simple. To return to the Super Bowl, the Cowboys will have to beat their age-old rivals and reigning champions, the Philadelphia Eagles.

It will be nothing short of a Herculean task because Philly has the roster that folks in Dallas wish they had. However, Prescott deserves the benefit of the doubt for another season to showcase that he is worth every penny of the $240 million deal.