At a Glance
- Dak Prescott leads the NFL with 4,482 passing yards, 34 yards ahead of Matthew Stafford
- Cowboys enter Week 18 with 49 offensive touchdowns, 8th-most in the league
- Prescott plans to focus on winning, not chasing records
Why it matters: This could be the first Cowboys quarterback to top the league in passing yards, but the team still misses playoffs.
Prescott’s Week 18 challenge is clear: lead the Cowboys past the Giants and keep his pursuit of the league’s passing title alive. The game could mark a milestone for Dallas while the franchise continues to chase postseason success.
Week 18 Stakes
The Cowboys face the Giants, a matchup that keeps the Cowboys’ playoff hopes alive. Prescott will start but coach Brian Schottenheimer said a backup, Joe Milton, might see action later in the game. Prescott emphasized that he won’t chase the record, preferring a smart, clean game that leads to a win.
Prescott said:
> “I’m not going to try to chase the record, I’m not going out there and throw it every time. It may actually be opposite of that, just trying to play a smart game, clean game, most importantly get a win.”
Prescott added:
> “I’m not gonna try to do too much early and make some big plays so I can get out of the game.”
| Metric | Prescott | Stafford |
|---|---|---|
| Passing Yards | 4,482 | 4,448 |
Other Week 18 matchups that could decide playoff spots:
- Saints (6-10) at Falcons (7-9): Falcons win = NFC South title.
- Browns (4-12) at Bengals (6-10): Myles Garrett chasing single-season sack record.
- Packers (9-6-1) at Vikings (8-8): Green Bay guaranteed No. 3 seed.
- Titans (3-13) at Jaguars (12-4): Jacksonville wins AFC South.
- Colts (8-8) at Texans (11-5): Texans keep longest win streak.
- Chiefs (6-10) at Raiders (2-14): Raiders’ loss guarantees No. 1 draft pick.
- Dolphins (7-9) at Patriots (13-3): Patriots rank high in points.
- Jets (3-13) at Bills (11-5): Bills play Jets in final game.
- Chargers (11-5) at Broncos (13-3): Broncos could secure No. 1 seed.
- Lions (8-8) at Bears (11-5): Caleb Williams close to 4,000 yards.
- Commanders (4-12) at Eagles (11-5): Eagles could finish as NFC 2nd or 3rd.
- Cardinals (3-13) at Rams (11-5): Rams and Cardinals receivers tied for league lead.
- Ravens (8-8) at Steelers (9-7): Steelers win gives last AFC playoff spot.
Key Takeaways
- Prescott is on the brink of becoming the first Cowboys QB to lead the league in passing yards.
- The Cowboys’ offensive production is strong, but the defense remains the league’s worst.
- Week 18 games will decide the final playoff spots in both conferences.
The outcome of the Cowboys-Giants game will not only influence Dallas’s record-setting potential but also shape the playoff picture for the rest of the NFL.
