The Dallas Cowboys will be the 2023 NFC East champions, and they’ve decided to give their starting quarterback a breather. Dallas needed a Week 18 win or a Philadelphia Eagles loss to clinch the division and the NFC’s No. 2 seed on Sunday. With both outcomes all but secured, Dak Prescott will head to the bench.
Cowboys Sit Dak Prescott After Clinching NFC East
Prescott posted another outstanding performance against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, throwing as many touchdowns (four) as he did in completions in a dominant outing. He also tossed four TDs in Dallas’ 45-10 victory over the Commanders in Week 11.
Still, there was little reason for Prescott to remain in the Cowboys’ Week 18 game once the result was apparent.
Dallas went up 35-10 after Prescott found Brandin Cooks for a five-yard touchdown with 4:06 remaining in the third quarter. At the same time, the Eagles were trailing the New York Giants 24-0. Either result would have been enough to give the Cowboys the division crown.
Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland intercepted Sam Howell on the Commanders’ next offensive drive, and head coach Mike McCarthy sent Prescott and the rest of the club’s offensive starters back onto the field for another series.
Dallas did not limit Prescott to handoffs. He dropped back to pass seven times on a 13-yard drive that ended with a missed field goal attempt by kicker Brandon Aubrey (one play was negated due to a Washington penalty).
The Cowboys finally pulled Prescott on their next offensive drive with just over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Cooper Rush will complete the rest of Sunday’s game.
MORE: Dallas Cowboys Depth Chart
Prescott will finish the season with 4,516 passing yards and a league-leading 36 touchdowns while earning the third Pro Bowl nod of his career.
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