Stephen A. Smith places Dak Prescott in MVP conversation

Stephen A. Smith is known for making fun of the Dallas Cowboys. However, on Monday, the First Take host turned his reputations on its head when he explained why he believes Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is the current frontrunner to be the NFL’s MVP.

“He deserves strong consideration for league MVP honors right now,” Smith said. “He definitely is overachieving. It’s not something we haven’t seen before. He’s like 29 or 30 games over .500 as a starter in his career. So, this is the regular season. This is when he does it, after all, not necessarily the postseason. But that doesn’t take away from what we’re seeing him right now.

“… I just say to myself, with CeeDee Lamb out, with Micah Parsons having been traded, with the pressure clearly falling on the shoulders of Dak Prescott, he has answered the call. And right now, I think he needs to be a leading candidate for league MVP honors.”

Through five games, Prescott has been excellent this season. He boasts 1,356 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, compared to just three interceptions. His 1,356 passing yards are the second-most in the NFL, only trailing Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.

In the Cowboys’ 37-22 win over the New York Jets on Sunday, Prescott didn’t show any signs of slowing down. He completed 18-of-his-29 pass attempts for 237 passing yards and a season-high four touchdowns without throwing an interception.

With the win, the Cowboys improved 2-2-1 on the season. While Stephen A. Smith isn’t willing to downplay Prescott’s play this season thus far, he also noted the veteran QB’s statistics aren’t worth much without postseason success.

“We shouldn’t give a damn about what he’s doing in the regular season. It’s about the postseason,” Smith said. “You’ve been in the league for 10 years now. You got two playoff wins on your résumé. Lord help you.

“Lord help him, if he plays lights out during this regular season and the Dallas Cowboys find a way to get themselves to the playoffs, and then he goes to the playoffs and wets the bed, he won’t hear the end of it, not from not from First Take. I can promise you that. But, he deserves league MVP consideration right now.”

Up next, the Dallas Cowboys will face off against the Carolina Panthers at noon CT on Sunday. The game will air live on FOX.