Dak Prescott's highly-anticipated return to AT&T Stadium was emotional and triumphant, reassuring and impressive.
In his first home game in 351 days, Prescott proved that the devastating ankle injury he suffered last season was a long forgotten nightmare, as he threw for 238 yards with three touchdowns in the Dallas Cowboys' 41-21 beatdown of the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday. A franchise quarterback performance.
"For him to overcome everything he overcame, you have to have confidence, have to believe in yourself," Fort Worth Star-Telegram writer Clarence Hill Jr. told After Hours with Amy Lawrence on Tuesday. "Because not many people were believing in you. Not many people thought Dak would be doing what he's doing, and be the player he is. So, you have to have belief in yourself.
"A lot of people have false bravado -- it's not false with Dak. He works hard, he puts the time in, and it shows on the field. He's not just out there yapping his mouth, talking about what he think he can do and how he feels he's supposed to do things. He believes in himself because he's put the work in."
Following the game, Prescott told reporters that his return to home turf was "special," and he's playing the best football of his career. Monday's numbers back up the claim -- by completing 21 of 26 passes, he became the second Cowboys quarterback to complete at least 80-percent of his passes in back-to-back games. Prescott currently owns a 77.5 completion percentage, which ranks second-highest through three games in the Super Bowl era.
Monday's game also marked the 10th time Prescott recorded three scores and no interceptions. Only Tony Romo (22) and legend Roger Staubach (11) have had more in franchise history, according to ESPN.
Dallas (2-1) will host the Carolina Panthers (3-0) in a Week 4 matchup on Sunday, Oct. 3. According to FiveThirtyEight's projections, the Cowboys currently have a 71-percent chance to reach the playoffs and a 66-percent chance to win the NFC East.
The entire conversation between Hill and Lawrence can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow After Hours With Amy Lawrence on Twitter @ALawRadio and @AfterHoursCBS, and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.