'Don't Sleep!' Philadelphia Eagles Coach Scouts Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Sean Desai wasn't shy about his assessment of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott before their Week 9 contest.

After an embarrassing Week 5 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Dallas Cowboys had just a single path to establishing themselves as legitimate contenders in the NFC: beating the Philadelphia Eagles.

They’ll have a chance to do just that in Philadelphia on Sunday. A road win would put Dallas just a half-game out of first place and mute the commentary of a silent trade deadline.

The Cowboys elected not to make a move on Tuesday. The Eagles, on the other hand, patched up their secondary a week prior by trading for Tennessee Titans star safety Kevin Byard.

Prescott is pursued by Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Haason Reddick.  / USA TODAY Sports

Byard joined a defense that ranks just 17th in expected points added and 11th in success rate—a far cry from last year’s elite unit. Even so, their surplus of talent on the defensive line and playmakers in the secondary are a tall task for opposing offenses.

Philadelphia is still transitioning to new defensive coordinator Sean Desai’s defense, and it’s only a matter of time before they put out its first dominant performance of the season.

Desai acknowledged that Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott won’t make that easy in Week 9.

“He’s operating in a highly efficient way right now,” Desai said on Tuesday. “Getting the ball out fast and he’s decisive with where he wants to go with the ball and he’s accurate.”

Prescott has stacked back-to-back incredible performances, interrupted by a Week 7 bye week. Against the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams, he’s managed to complete a combined 46-of-61 passes for 576 yards, five scores, and a single interception. He has 59 yards and a touchdown, too. Dallas (5-2) won both games.

Desai made sure to acknowledge Prescott’s uptick in mobility—11 of his 23 rushes have come in the last two games.

“The one thing you can’t ever sleep on him, we learned this a long time ago … his legs,” Desai said. “He can still create plays and make plays from a scramble position as a thrower and a runner, so he’s playing at a high level.”

Prescott’s hot streak has impacted both aspects of his game and, with the help of bye-week adjustments, has unlocked this offense’s upside. Against the Eagles’ talented, well-coached defense, Sunday should give the football world a clash of NFC titans and a game that’s as exciting as it is pivotal for the NFC East race.