Dallas Cowboys MVP QB Dak Prescott 'Better Than' Patrick Mahomes? 5 Keys to Win, Injury & Inactives for 'TNF'

Is Dallas Cowboys MVP QB Dak Prescott 'Better Than' Chiefs Star Patrick Mahomes? Our 5 Keys to Win, Injury & Inactives for 'Thursday Night Football' against the Seattle Seahawks

The Dallas Cowboys begin their "gauntlet" of games as the Seattle Seahawks come to AT&T Stadium on Thursday Night Football. Coming off a 45-10 beatdown of the Washington Commanders while the San Francisco 49ers soundly beat the Seahawks, the teams have opposite form lines.

The Cowboys have made AT&T Stadium a fortress, blowing out teams in record-setting ways, but the Seahawks present coach Mike McCarthy's team with its toughest challenge since that now infamous Week 5 debacle vs. the 49ers.

But how can the Cowboys put the storyline of "only beating up bad teams and losing to the good ones" to bed? And how can Dak Prescott further strengthen what we will call his "Patrick Mahomes-level of MVP candidacy''?

By doing these five things.

But first the inactives. ... WR Jalen Brooks, RB Deuce Vaughn, CB Noah Igbinoghene, CB Eric Scott, OT Asim Richards and emergency third QB Trey Lance.

Now to the keys.

1. Winning on third down: Now, this goes for both sides of the ball. The Seahawks offense ranks 29th for converting third downs, while Dan Quinn's unit ranks second in stopping them (34.7 percent).

Offensively, the Cowboys rank second for picking up third downs (47.6 percent), and at home, they are even better, converting 52.2 percent of the time, while the Seahawks rank 27th in stopping conversions, allowing them 44 percent of the time.

Converting and stopping third downs is a strength for Dallas and a weakness for Seattle - exploit it.

2. Generate turnovers: The Cowboys rank 13th for takeaways this season (a far cry from previous years), but the Seattle offense tends to give the ball way. In seven of their last nine games, the Seahawks have at least one turnover.

So, while the Seahawks can hurt teams offensively with their weapons, they also give the defense a chance. With a playmaking secondary that includes history maker DaRon Bland, if a chance comes to gain an extra possession, it must be taken.

3. Get the rushing attack rolling: This game might be a case of getting the run going to set up the pass this week, as the Seahawks defense only gives up, on average, 230 passing yards a game. With corners who can make plays, there is danger in airing it out.

So to counter that, the Cowboys, who have gotten some juice running the football lately with Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle, pounding the rock against a Seahawks defense that gives up 117 rushing yards a game (21st), might be an avenue to go down.

The Seahawks have given up rushing totals of 155, 298, and 169 this season, so there is a weakness if the run game can get rolling.

Dak Prescott and the Cowboys begin their tough schedule with a home meeting against the Seahawks / Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

4. Limit turnovers (Dak 'Be Better Than Mahomes'?!) If there was ever going to be a game that would test Dak Prescott's ability to protect the football, this is it. The Seattle defense has forced a turnover in five straight games.

Dak has done a superb job of protecting the football this season, but with the "Texas Coast Offense'' liking to air the ball out, it could spell trouble with Seahawks playmakers roaming the secondary.

Whoever can protect the football will go a long way to deciding the game. Can Prescott do it again?

And, just for fun, we ponder whether he can continue to do it "better than Patrick Mahomes.''

Why bring up the Chiefs' Mahomes, who has nothing in particular to do with this game? Simply because he is the consensus standard-bearer for QB excellence ... and Dak's MVP candidacy is legitimized by a comparison ...

Dak and Mahomes are both leading 8-3 teams.

They've thrown for essentially the same number of yards, Dak 2,935, Mahomes 2.917.

Dak's TD:INT ratio is a stellar 23:6; Mahomes' is 21:9. (Prescott also has two rushing TDs, while Mahomes has none.)

Dak's passer rating is 107.4; Mahomes' is 96.3.

Dak's completion percentage is 70 percent; Mahomes' is 68.1.

Does this mean that Dak Prescott is "better than Mahomes''? Not necessarily. But it does it mean Prescott is playing better than the Chiefs QB who will absolutely get MVP votes.

Which means, logically, Dak Prescott is worthy of MVP votes.

5. Convert in the redzone: The Seahawks rank 29th for stopping touchdowns once a team is in the red zone, allowing a touchdown 66.6 percent of the time. Dallas ranks 16th for scoring in the red zone, but the last three weeks the Cowboys have been superb here.

During that span, the Cowboys lead the NFL, converting a red zone chance into a touchdown 78.5 percent of the time.

Additionally, the Seahawks defense allows 348 total yards of offense per game, while the Cowboys, in the last three games, have averaged 460 total yards.

Prescott and company must make it count when they get into the red zone. ... and if he keeps "playing better than Mahomes,'' the Cowboys will keep winning, with our Mike Fisher predicting a 30-10 success.