Keys to Cowboys Avoiding Early Exit in 2023-24 Playoffs | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Dak Prescott has put together some statistically great seasons. However, his reputation is never going to take the next step beyond that without at least one deep playoff run in his career.

This is a year where the pieces are in place for him to do just that.

Prescott is 2-4 as a starter in the postseason. Some of the criticism he has received is unwarranted. He has thrown 11 touchdowns to five interceptions with another four touchdowns on the ground. It's easy to forgot in the postseason that football is a team game and quarterbacks don't always deserve all of the blame.

But this is arguably the best defense he's had going into the playoffs and the offensive line has mostly done a good job. He's taken 39 sacks, but he's only seen pressure on 16.4 percent of his dropbacks.

He has an elite receiver in CeeDee Lamb who is at the top of his game.

Last season, Prescott was at his worst when they were eliminated by the 49ers. He was 23-of-37 for 206 yards with just one touchdown to two interceptions.

This year, Prescott has thrown 25 touchdowns to three interceptions in their 11 wins, completing 71.1 percent of his passes. In their losses, he has seven touchdowns to five interceptions with a completion percentage of 62.6 percent. The Cowboys go as Prescott goes.

If the Cowboys are going to make the most of their Super Bowl chances this season he has to be better than that. It's simple, but it's the biggest factor for the Cowboys to avoid an early exit.