Comparison of players is common in the NFL. And when you are a former NFL player with a Super Bowl win, it is much more obvious that everyone starts drawing an analogy between you and other players. Well, one such legendary quarterback is being held up side by side with the Cowboys Dak Prescott.

On Wednesday’s First Take episode, Jeff Saturday, former player and coach, joined Stephen A. Smith to discuss whether the Cowboys could win a Super Bowl with Dak Prescott. Well, soon Saturday compared Prescott and Manning, saying he has played with a QB who faced the same question marks when he goes to the playoffs. The statement went south and ticked Smith up.

The host responded to the Super Bowl winner, “Peyton Manning, if not his rookie year, literally certainly year to the man was running a damn offense.“ He says that the Cowboys starter QB was not given the responsibility that Peyton Manning had. He mentioned how brilliant the Super Bowl MVP was to have such big responsibilities on his shoulders!

And that’s not all! Smith emphasized how everything was headed to ‘the Sheriff’ and he made his place in the NFL world. He believes that Dak Prescott’s duties do not come even remotely close to the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. But, how does the Cowboys player compare to one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time?

Does Dak Prescott stand apple to apple with Peyton Manning?

Dak Prescott and Peyton Manning are as alike as two peas in a pod. From facing criticism at the start of their career to achieving success, both the QBs have proved their game. While the first-team All-SEC honors receiver, Prescott has worked hard on his leadership, Manning overcame early playoff struggles before winning his first Super Bowl in his eighth season. Interestingly, Manning has won several honors and awards, including five-time NFL MVP, College Football Hall of Fame, and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Moreover, Manning is famous as the only starter QB to reach the Super Bowl with multiple teams. On the other hand, Prescott’s strengths lie in his physicality and vision. While Manning’s unmatched football intelligence and preparation set him apart, Prescott adopts a different style for playoff performances. However, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year lacks the offensive freedom Manning held.

If we talk about figures, Prescott, in his 9th season with the Cowboys, has racked up 29,672 passing yards and 203 touchdowns. He has a career passer rating of 99.0. Whereas, the legendary QB holds a record of a 17-seasons, having 71,940 passing yards, 539 touchdowns, and a 96.5 passer rating. Now, that’s quite impressive and even close!

Manning may surely hold the edge in total career stats, but Prescott leads in interception ratio, with 2.74 TDs per interception compared to Manning’s 2.14. However, the former NFL player holds 14 Pro Bowls and MVPs, while Prescott’s career is still on the rise.

As Prescott performs in 2024, the comparison becomes even more interesting. Can he lead the Cowboys to a Manning-esque legacy? Well, only time will tell if Prescott can match the heights of one of the game’s greatest.