💸 Dak vs. Russ: A Money Matchup

Sunday’s Cowboys-Seahawks game features two electric QBs, making this a must-see matchup. [View in browser]( [FOX SPORTS INSIDER WITH MARTIN ROGERS] In today’s FOX Sports Insider: Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys go up against Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks in what should be a wildly entertaining game ... we are treated to a behind-the-scenes look at Alabama as the 2020 SEC college football season kicks off ... and we take a look at an incredible underarm ace in the Hamburg Open. Dak Prescott doesn’t just want to get paid like Russell Wilson, he wants more. This weekend, he has an ideal opportunity to show if he is worth it. Sunday’s clash between the Seattle Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys is many things, not restricted to the following: a matchup between one remarkably well-oiled machine and another that is clunking and sputtering and somehow surviving, a guaranteed fiesta of heavy offense and high scoring drama and, simply put, an unmissable way to spend a weekend afternoon. It is also a battle of two quarterbacks at differing stages of their career and if you see a spot of green-eyed envy from Prescott towards Wilson from across CenturyLink Field, that’s because the more experienced man has almost everything the Cowboys QB wants. Wilson has a fat contract, a $35 million a year deal sealed and secured in the spring of 2019. Prescott, now with 19 months having passed since talks opened towards Dallas about a new agreement, still doesn’t have it. After Patrick Mahomes cashed in for $45 million a year, the Cowboys’ signal-caller will be eagerly eyeing the $40 million annual mark when talks recommence at season’s end. [STORY IMAGE 1] Furthermore, Wilson, nine years into his pro career after being a third-round pick, has a Super Bowl ring, something Prescott (a fourth rounder in 2016) and the Cowboys can only dream of at this point. One big result, on the road in Seattle, wouldn’t suddenly push Prescott over the top when it comes to trying to persuade Jerry Jones to dig a little bit deeper. Yet perception is a muscular sidekick to have on your side in such matters, especially when it comes to QBs and the significance of outdueling Wilson. Either way, it should be breathlessly entertaining. “It is definitely going to be a shootout,” [former Pro Bowl wide receiver and First Things First co-host Brandon Marshall said, on FS1](. “(Prescott) can keep up with Russell Wilson. Now you are looking at a banged-up Seattle defense, they can’t get pressure on the QB. I am going to give the edge to the Seahawks but Dak Prescott will look good. It is going to be a great game to watch.” [STORY IMAGE 2] This weekend offers the opportunity for a statement game, and a statement performance for Prescott, because taking down Seattle is no small matter. The Seahawks surged to 2-0 with a win against the New England Patriots last week. According to FOX Bet, Seattle is listed at 10-to-1 odds to win the Super Bowl, trailing only Baltimore (+450) and Kansas City (+500). As for Wilson, well, no one is playing better than him right now. Always full of poise, the Seahawks quarterback is throwing with 82.5 percent accuracy through two weeks, the highest in NFL history at the same point of a season. The Cowboys are, on the other hand, shakier than a lopsided Jenga tower. After two weeks, we are sure of only one thing - that they will be thrilling to watch, because anything could happen. Prescott threw for 450 yards and ran for three touchdowns (as well as throwing for one) last week, but the Cowboys still needed an Atlanta Falcons meltdown and a wild onside kick recovery to get them to a point of parity at 1-1. [STORY IMAGE 3] Another similar outing, especially in a win, and Prescott will be elevated to a new mark. It is no secret that the Dallas defense is not particularly good, and he can become seen as a man capable of lifting the organization on his shoulders. Which is, frankly, the kind of thing you might be entitled to expect if you are paying someone $40 million. “Life as the quarterback of a high-profile team isn’t fair,” [Cowboys columnist David Moore wrote in the Dallas Morning News](. “If you want to be paid among the best at the position, go out and beat the best at the position. No one at the moment is better than Wilson.” If he can’t, it might be hard for Prescott’s representatives to put forward a sturdy argument that he is worth more than Wilson, even at a younger age and equipped with the knowledge that the QB market has moved on drastically since the Seattle deal was cut. [STORY IMAGE 4] You can argue that Prescott is at one of the most critical junctures of this elongated standoff with the Cowboys upper management. This weekend, at least he is going to get the chance to do his thing, seemingly without tactical restriction. New head coach Mike McCarthy isn’t in a mood to make any special concessions to try to tame Wilson, by slowing down his own offense. He is going to go for it, and don’t be surprised if some huge numbers are posted on both sides. “We want to score as fast as we can,” McCarthy said. “And as many times as we can.” Financially speaking, Prescott’s giant score still awaits. If he’s right on the money on Sunday … a similar result could follow next summer. [STORY IMAGE 5] Here’s what others have said ... Colin Cowherd, The Herd: “Dak Precott has a better offensive line, he has a star running back, he also has a better trio of wide receivers and a better defense. And Russell Wilson is favored by 5.5. What makes this a fascinating football game is that Dak has better assets everywhere. But the difference is Russell Wilson tends to make his greatest plays in the biggest moments. Dak’s greatest stats are often early when the game is not in doubt, or late when they are catching up and it’s not a play to win the game, it’s a play to get back into the game.” Emmanuel Acho, Speak For Yourself: “There’s no chance that Dak Prescott is about to outplay Russell Wilson. Russell is the antithesis of Dak Prescott … Dak Prescott can’t win the close games, Russell Wilson last year had 11 of his 12 wins decided by one possession or less. Dak Prescott can’t beat playoff teams. Russell Wilson, all he does is beat playoff teams. Since he’s gotten to the league, he’s second only to Tom Brady in his record against playoff teams at 25-20 … Every time they meet, Russell Wilson is better.” Nick Wright, First Things First: “I expect Dak (Prescott) to play well, but I expect Russ to cook like we haven’t seen him cook yet this year, and he’s been cooking all season, because the Cowboys won’t be able to get pressure on him.” [IN OTHER WORDS] - Before two of the most electric quarterbacks in the NFL meet in Week 3, [Sports Illustated’s Albert Breer]( looks back at how they were evaluated coming out of college, what other teams missed and what we can learn. - The College Football Playoff is committed to a four-team field. But the criteria for the playoff — or the “eye test” — will need to be altered to provide a better baseline amid the cancelation of games and shortened seasons. [Brandon Marcello of 247Sports.com]( calls for the College Football Playoff to expand in 2020. - From the practice field to the training room, [ESPN senior writer Chris Low]( takes us behind the scenes with Alabama as the 2020 SEC college football season kicks off. [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED] [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED]( No-look passes… one-handed catches … and … underarm aces? We love to highlight must-see plays in this section of our newsletter, and it often is a no-look pass for a dunk, or a one-handed touchdown grab, but this highlight is something you don’t see every day. Check out this outrageous underarm ace from Alexander Bublik in the Hamburg Open. The unconventional serve completely catches Felix Auger-Aliassime off guard, and the camera man as well. Take a look at the smile and the little shoulder shrug from Bublik following his serve. Well played, Mr. Bublik! [VIEWER'S GUIDE] Friday Night SmackDown (FOX, 8 p.m. ET) Jeff Hardy and Sami Zayn go head-to-head in a non-title match on Friday Night SmackDown. Miami Heat at Boston Celtics (ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET) Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat take on Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of this Eastern Conference Finals matchup. Kansas State at Oklahoma (Saturday, FOX, 12 p.m. ET) Spencer Rattler and the No. 3-ranked Oklahoma Sooners host the Kansas State Wildcats. Texas at Texas Tech (Saturday, FOX, 3:30 p.m. ET) Sam Ehlinger leads the Texas Longhorns into Jones AT&T Stadium to take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Los Angeles Rams at Buffalo Bills (Sunday, FOX, 1 p.m. ET) Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams travel to Buffalo to take on Josh Allen and the Bills. Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 p.m. ET) Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks host Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys. [BET OF THE DAY] [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by FOX Bet Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Denver Broncos: Buccaneers -5.5 If this matchup took place with both rosters at full strength, we’d be looking at a must-see football game on Sunday afternoon. However, the Denver Broncos have been decimated by injuries to their starting quarterback (Drew Lock), top receiver (Courtland Sutton), and top pass-rusher (Von Miller). Jeff Driskel will get the start at quarterback for the Broncos, and while he has proven to be a solid NFL backup, it’s going to be awfully tough when he has Ndamukong Suh, Jason Pierre-Paul and Devin White coming after him. If you’re looking for a nice, little payday on Sunday, go ahead and lock in Tampa Bay at -5.5. 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