Peyton Manning praises Dak Prescott, is pulling for Cowboys QB in playoffs

The Dallas Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott have a Pro Football Hall of Famer and two-time Super Bowl champion pulling for them in the postseason.

Peyton Manning, speaking on the “This Is Football” podcast with Kevin Clark, praised Prescott for his play this season before saying that if the Cowboys perform well in the playoffs, it’ll be because of Prescott.

Peyton Manning and I talked about Dak Prescott. He compared Dak's demeanor in a huge football market to someone he knows very well. 👀

"Dak just stays pretty even keel which is the best quality of a quarterback in the NFL, especially playing someplace like Dallas." pic.twitter.com/yv8DqCjcFw

— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) January 10, 2024

“If the Cowboys play well in the playoffs, it’s because Dak is doing the same things he’s done all season,” Manning said. “He’s been calm, just collected in the moment.”

Prescott, 30, had arguably his best season in 2023. He threw for 4,516 yards, a league-leading 36 touchdowns and nine interceptions on a career-high 69.5% passing. Prescott led the Cowboys to an NFC East title and is one of the MVP favorites alongside Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey among others.

Not bad for one of the most scrutinized players in the league. Of course, such is life when it comes to playing quarterback for America’s Team.

“Dak Prescott takes a lot of heat, heat comes his way. I think that comes with playing quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys,” Manning said. “I think he wants that. He wants that platform. Handles it so well. He handles the positives, he handles the negatives. I think Dak just stays pretty even-keel, which is the best quality of a quarterback in the NFL, especially playing in a place like Dallas … It just serves you well if you don’t go through this rollercoaster.”

Dak Prescott, Cowboys prepping for Packers in Wild Card Round

Prescott and the Cowboys’ will face the Green Bay Packers this Sunday, looking to advance to the NFC Divisional Round for the second consecutive season. It’s a reunion of sorts for head coach Mike McCarthy, who won a Super Bowl with the Packers before the organization fired him in 2018.

As opposed to last season when the two teams met, McCarthy isn’t letting emotions take centerstage this time around.

“Last year, I thought it was important for me to talk about Green Bay at the beginning of the week with the team. I regretted it,” McCarthy said Monday. “That doesn’t even need to come into our energy base, but you live and learn. This game is about our commitment. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing.

“… That’s where I am. There’s just no time for that. … It will not help us win. And if it will not help us win the game, not interested.”