Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys enter the 2026 season with high expectations, and ESPN is indicating just that with recent predictions.
ESPN predicts Prescott as an MVP candidate for him to reach a major passing record. The network also predicts the Cowboys will be among the five most improved teams in the league.
“Prescott’s incredible 2025 campaign was overlooked due to his team’s lackluster defense, but I felt he was actually the second-most valuable player in the league last season [and ahead of Matthew Stafford],” ESPN’s Seth Walder wrote. “If he plays the same way, and the Cowboys’ defense can be even just mediocre, Prescott will be an MVP candidate.”
Last season, Prescott completed 67.3% of his passes for 4,552 yards and 30 touchdowns versus 10 interceptions. Prescott had some monster games along the way despite a 7-9-1 season.
He threw for more than 300 yards in six games last season, and he topped 350 yards in three of those contests. Prescott had a season-high 376 yards on Dec. 4 in a loss to the Detroit Lions, 44-30, and he threw for 361 yards in a 40-37 overtime win against the New York Giants on Sep. 14.
How Dak Prescott Could Join the 400-Yard Club
Prescott’s high-yardage games led to ESPN analyst Pamela Maldonado predicting that Prescott will pass for more than 400 yards in a game this season.
“The Cowboys play Washington at home in Week 2, and the path is very easy to visualize: volume, aggressiveness, game environment, receiver upside and a willingness to keep throwing,” Maldonado wrote. “Prescott threw for over 4,500 yards last season, and Washington had the third-worst coverage grade and second-worst rate of touchdowns allowed. It’s not a bet on certainty, but could it realistically be Prescott? Yes.”
Washington gave up 26.5 points per game last season and allowed 4,122 yards passing along the way. The Commanders ranked 28th in pass defense.
Dallas beat the Commanders both times, and Prescott threw for 264 and 307 yards in those victories. While the Commanders have made offseason adjustments on defense, the Cowboys are building on an offense that soared in 2025 with Prescott and wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
Why the Cowboys Will Improve
For starters, the defense can’t get much worse than it was in 2025.
Dallas gave up 30.1 points per game, a league-worst. The Cowboys ranked last in passing yards allowed with 4,276 yards surrendered, and the run defense gave up 2,133 yards for 23rd in the league.
As ESPN analyst Matt Bowen pointed out, the Cowboys made enough changes on defense to make big strides in 2026. After all, the Cowboys were a defense away from being a playoff team amid three one-score losses and no defeats by more than 20 points.
“New [defensive] coordinator Christian Parker will bring elements of Vic Fangio’s system to Dallas,” Bowen wrote. “Edge rushers Rashan Gary and Malachi Lawrence, as well as safety Caleb Downs, boost the Cowboys’ impact play ability. This team should compete for the NFC East title.”
Dallas won’t have an easy time winning the NFC East with the Philadelphia Eagles looking as strong as ever. The New York Giants look rejuvenated despite injuries, and the Commanders seek to bounce back from a lackluster 2025.
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