We’re only through four weeks of the NFL season, and the quarterback conversation already looks like a roller coaster. Every week, names shift up and down the charts, with breakout performances shaking up the established order. However, one of the biggest surprises this week involves Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who finds himself in an unexpected spotlight.

As per our NFL rankings, Prescott’s revised ranking was well-covered: he rose from No. 22 to No. 13 among QBs this week. That surge, nearly a full 10 spots in seven days, indicates just how monumental his Week 4 game against the Green Bay Packers was.

Prescott finished the night in style by going 31-of-40 for 319 yards with three touchdowns. His 77.5 completion percentage ranked as a career top 20, and his 124.9 passer rating ranked as high as well.

The evening was historic for one other reason, as well. Prescott moved into the Cowboys’ all-time completions leadership, surpassing franchise legend and Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman.

That record told a lot about just how far back into Cowboys’ history Prescott has already established himself, even with as much fan distrust as his consistency.

But the night was not without its what-ifs. The quarterback himself was sacked but once, ironically by ex-teammate Micah Parsons, and it was on the game’s most critical play.

The Cowboys needed a touchdown to win in overtime. Prescott looked to have the open runway to score the touchdown and win before Parsons took him out. This moment resulted in a tie game.

However, his performance has not gone unnoticed. Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski graded Prescott an A+ for his performance, one of only two quarterbacks. Los Angeles Rams veteran Matthew Stafford being the other to reach as an “A+” in Week 4.

“When operating at a high level, Prescott can be as dangerous as any other passer,” Sobleski wrote.

The Cowboys stand at 1-2-1 heading into a pair of straight-up road games against the Jets and Panthers, both of which can place Prescott’s current hot streak even higher.

Ex-NFL Player Joins MVP cause for Cowboys quarterback

Although his weekly grades are in opposition to experts, Prescott does have a surprise MVP ally in Patrick Peterson. The veteran former Pro Bowl cornerback and eight-time Pro Bowl pick, who spent over a decade shutting down wide receivers in the NFL, created some waves on the “1st & Pod” podcast after he was asked what players could end up becoming MVP candidates.

Andrew Fillipponi posted on X and penned: “BONKERS: On 1st & Pod. Our very popular NFL podcast. Patrick Peterson says DAK PRESCOTT is his MVP a quarter of the way thru the season!!! I disagreed. Watch to get my pick. Who would you go with?”

Peterson became defensive when queried about whether Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was his MVP. “Well, I don’t think so,” Peterson replied. When asked to state who in his mind was worth the award in his place, he did not bat an eyelash: “Honestly, probably Dak. Yeah, probably Dak. If we’re going by the numbers… Dak going to be in the MVP talk once the season’s over. He’s going to have a year just like Joe Burrow had because he’s going to have to throw four touchdowns a game.”

His commentary lays out how Prescott’s deployment, as well as his capability to be the Cowboys’ offense bearer, would have him squarely in the middle of the MVP discourse if Dallas continues going up.

MVP speech is still in contention. But Peterson’s endorsement shows how the narrative has turned around in terms of how Prescott is viewed. A week prior, Dallas’ quarterback was somewhere between the lower third of league points. Now he has skyrocketed in the experts’ grades.

The Cowboys are an inconsistent roster that drops the ball too many times at the wrong moment. Plus, add a QB who teases moments but always seems to be under fire.

Whether Prescott can maintain that level of activity in the coming weeks will tell whether or not this flurry of activity is the sign of a genuine turning point or a flash in the pan.