Deion Sanders Forecasts Expectations for Cowboys QB Dak Prescott

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will defend their Super Bowl crown on Thursday, September 9 when they open up the season against the Dallas Cowboys.

While current NFL odds give Tampa Bay a current edge in the duel, the quarterback matchup between Bucs QB Tom Brady and Cowboys slinger Dak Prescott is must-see television.

Prescott has a lot to prove after signing a four-year $160 million extension during the offseason.

“Dak Prescott is a guy that I adore,” Dallas Cowboys icon Deion Sanders told ESPN’s First Take last week.

“I even tell my son Shedeur who is a quarterback to watch some things that he can do because he can do some things well. Dak is a stand-up guy. I look forward to the Cowboys having a good season. I don’t know about great but a good season.”

That’s high praise for Prescott and the Cowboys who finished 6-10 last season.

Prescott has not played full-speed football since October of 2020, when his compound ankle fracture took place.

Prescott has since had surgery on the ankle, as well as battled through a shoulder injury in training camp.

“We need to get as much in as we possibly can between now and the Tampa Bay game,” says Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.

“Our focus is on Tampa. We talked a little bit last night. We started this quest on April 19, there’s 300 days that are available to reach the Super Bowl and in between there you have to keep your eye on the target one day at a time. This is the first game, it’s the most important game because it’s the next game … But I’ve played in that game. I’ve been on both sides of it. The feeling in the opening game, it’s a ton of energy, it’s a great game to compete in. Our guys, trust me, we’re looking forward to it and we can’t wait to get there.”

Offensively, the Cowboys are projected to be very strong, particularly with the return of Prescott.

In five games in 2020, Prescott threw for 1,856 yards and nine touchdowns.

As CBS notes: Dallas was on a league-best scoring pace (32.6 points per game) with Prescott in the lineup last season, and the team’s starting quarterback is on track to play in the opener. Prescott was on a 16-game pace for more than 6,000 total yards and nearly 40 touchdowns in 2020, and his presence changes the game for Dallas.

Sanders also forecasted Dallas’ upside this season. “Ten games,” he shared.

“I think they will win ten games. That division is garbage. That division is horrible.

Added Sanders: “If you win the division, what are you going to win after that? A trip to get beat down? There are only about three or four or five teams that could win it all and they’re not one of those.”

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Tags: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys, Deion Sanders, NFL, The Hype Magazine