Dak does have the “clutch gene”
The most humorous argument against Prescott’s abilities is that he isn’t clutch and can’t win in the big-time games. As previously stated, quarterback wins aren’t a stat (as every Bucs fan should know), but the stats actually disprove this either way.
During his career, Prescott has eight fourth-quarter comebacks and 14 game-winning drives. To give a reference frame, Jared Goff has six 4QC and seven GWD, and Carson Wentz has six 4QC and eight GWD. Both of these quarterbacks have recently signed new contracts despite being “less clutch” than Dak according to these metrics.
Prescott even has a game-winning drive and a fourth-quarter comeback in his lone playoff win, which would suggest that he can stand up to the challenge of a significant moment as seen in his victory over Russell Wilson and the Seahawks.
There is also an argument that quickly comes up: Prescott is only able to win versus bad teams. Again, quarterback wins are not a stat. If it were, a quarterback should be able to play perfectly and win every time, yet defenses can collapse, offensive players can fumble, kickers can miss, and coaches can mismanage the game, but some people continue to argue this as a legitimate metric. Quarterback wins are as real as tight end wins and edge wins.
Although wins are the focus of this video, Nick Wright of First Things First on FS1 provides an interesting look at Dak’s career versus his best and worst competition.
Dak Prescott, NFL Career:
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) July 17, 2020
vs. NYG & WSH: 13-3, 64.8 Comp %, 7.9 Yds/Pass, 30-4 TD-INT, 105.3 Pass Rtg
vs. Rest of NFL: 27-21, 66.2 Comp %, 7.5. Yds/Pass, 67-32 TD-INT, 94.3 Pass Rtg
"Dak & the offense is going to have to be better against good teams." — @getnickwright pic.twitter.com/Sb7JpODKjf
Wright may be trying to argue against Prescott in this segment, but to argue that Dak should get “a hell of a lot better against the good teams” to win seems to minimize how impressive his stat lines are.
Against his best competition, Prescott has a higher completion percentage than the career numbers of Goff, Wentz, Lamar Jackson, and even Patrick Mahomes. His passer rating in those games is also higher than the career stats for Wentz and Goff.
Even though there is a drop-off, Prescott is clearly not disappearing in the big games, and his level of play against his best competition would still be an improvement in Tampa Bay.