'What'll They Do?' Dak Prescott Challenges NFL Defenses' Game Plans As 'Texas Coast Offense' Shows Off Weapons

'What'll They Do?' Dak Prescott Challenges NFL Defenses' Game Plans As 'Texas Coast Offense' Shows Off Weapons

There may not be a better word to describe the Dallas Cowboys offense right now than “confident.”

Since the bye week, Dallas is 2-1, scoring over 38 points per game and getting star receiver CeeDee Lamb back on track. He’s put up at least 11 catches and 150 yards in each of the last three games. It goes without saying that the offense has come around as he has.

Quarterback Dak Prescott has put himself in the conversation for the MVP award, executing with ruthless precision and making some downright arrogant passes. He’s at his best when his interceptions come in the form of heat checks, like a dominant three-point shooter testing his limits.

The offense’s ascension hasn’t been a two-man job, though. Receivers Michael Gallup and Brandin Cooks have struggled mightily over the first half of the season. In Sunday’s 49-17 victory, both had their best games of the season.

photo by https://twitter.com/JessNevarez_ / Jess Nevarez

Gallup, whose catch-point production made him a vertical threat in the Cowboys’ passing attack, finally made the plays asked of him. Rather than putting Dallas behind the eight-ball on downfield shots, he converted them. Though he was only targeted twice, he hauled in both passes for 70 total yards and a vintage touchdown.

Cooks, similarly, saw the production fans have been begging for. Against a decrepit Giants secondary, Cooks caught nine of 10 targets for 173 yards and a score, essentially doubling his season-long statistics.

Simply put, the offense has been firing on all cylinders and dismantling the weaker teams on its schedule. No longer is this an offense questioning its identity or playcaller.

Prescott, commandeering this dominant unit, was more than willing to challenge future defenses.

“I’m interested in what they’ll do,” Prescott said. Are you going to leave CeeDee one-on-one then? In this league, you understand that people are always trying to take away what you do best. But when those guys go out there and perform like they did, I don’t know what a defense does.”

Perhaps playing a tanking New York team inflated their production, but Prescott was incredible in Week 10. He completed 26-of-35 attempts for 404 yards, five total touchdowns, and an interception. His 21 expected points added epitomized his 96th-percentile performance.

As Prescott implied, defenses are in quite the conundrum if both of Dallas’ second receivers are performing up to expectations.

“You have to leave one-on-one somewhere,” he continued. “And [Gallup] is going to make those plays. [Cooks] is going to make those plays. [Tight end Jake Ferguson] is going to make them. You want to play soft? We’ll get the run game going even more, sure. Interested to see how it goes.”

Although running back Tony Pollard is yet to break out, the run game did have its way against the Giants, totaling 168 yards and a handful of chunk gains. It’s easy to imagine a red-hot passing offense making the run game more successful.

Of course, none of Sunday’s fun will matter if it doesn’t continue into future game days. Fortunately, dates with the mediocre Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders aren’t exactly the ‘85 Bears. If the Cowboys are going to make an improbable run at the NFC East, it will come at the hands of Prescott continuing to execute at a high level.

For the first time in a while, Dallas didn’t miss receiver Amari Cooper. Confidence is a hell of a drug, and if Gallup and Cooks continue to play like this, its performance-enhancing effects can take this team deep into the winter.