Dak Prescott Injury Drops Dallas Super Bowl Odds

Quarterback Dak Prescott is done for the year and oddmakers believe so too are the chances the Dallas Cowboys will win the Super Bowl. Several sportsbooks adjusted the lines for Dallas to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy, and they’re not optimistic about the Cowboys.

Prescott suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle during the team’s home game against NFC East foe, the New York Giants. The injury occurred in the third quarter when the quarterback was scrambling away from Giants’ defenders. An emotional Prescott was carted off the field and taken directly to a hospital.

The Cowboys later confirmed the severity of the injury, saying Prescott is lost for the rest of the season. Dallas won the game, 37-34, as Andy Dalton filled in for Prescott.

The former Cincinnati Bengals starter will be behind center for the rest of the year, and sportsbooks immediately downgraded the team’s Super Bowl chances.

FanDuel put the Cowboys at 44/1 after the injury, down from 33/1. Bovada has the Cowboys at 35/1, after being 28/1 before Week 5.

Cowboys Favorites to win NFC East

While Dallas saw its odds drop to win the Super Bowl, they actually improved their odds to win the lowly NFC East. Going into Sunday’s game, FanDuel had the Cowboys as -110 favorite to win the division. The victory over the Giants brought them to 2-3 on the season, and they moved to -125. Philadelphia, which is next at +135, is in second place at 1-3-1. Washington is in third place at 1-4 and at +1000. The winless Giants are last at +2500.

Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters that seeing Prescott laying on the field was hard to take. He said the team has to move on now with Dalton as their starting quarterback.

“Andy came in and made the key throw there at the end,” McCarthy said. “The defense gave us the opportunity. I can’t say enough about the connection between him and Michael [Gallup] at the most important part of the game. That’s big-time football. You’ve got to make big plays at key moments to win games in this league. That will never change. Andy did a heck of a job.”

What is Prescott’s Future?

Prescott had surgery and was released from the hospital on Monday. That, however, is only the beginning for the 27-year-old. He faces a lengthy rehabilitation process that should last anywhere from four to six months, ruling him out for the rest of the 2020 season.

Prescott is playing on a one-year deal with the franchise tag. The injury makes contract talks more complicated, but Dallas owner Jerry Jones said in a statement he expects Prescott to return next year for the Cowboys.

“We are all heartbroken for Dak and this very disappointing injury,” Jones said. “The outpouring of messages that I have received regarding his setback speaks volumes to the respect and admiration that he has earned from his teammates, former Cowboys players, and Cowboys supporters everywhere. We have no doubt that he will return to the position of leadership and purpose that he brings to our team.”

Jones’ son, Stephen, the team’s executive vice president, said in a radio interview on Monday the Cowboys are committed to Prescott.

“He’s the face of our franchise and we know he’ll overcome this,” he said.